A hair salon in Merton has been publicly listed as not paying employees the National Minimum Wage and Living Wage.

Seanna Hanna Ltd on Watermill Way in Merton Abbey Mills, failed to pay £2,154.56 to 20 workers, according to a HM Revenue and Customs report.

The list, which included the names of 233 employers, was published by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy yesterday, August 16.

Financial Director for Seanna Hanna Ltd, Lynn Hickey, told Sutton Guardian: “We allowed our apprentices, that could not afford to pay for items such as GHD hair straighteners and hairdryers, that were often gifts for their Mum’s birthday or Christmas, to be deducted from wages in instalments. This took them under the minimum wage bracket.

“We also purchased tickets on their behalf for shows, to be deducted in instalments from wages. This again took them under the minimum wage.

“We were informed in writing by the minimum wage department that that the staff could pay in cash, by cheque or directly from their bank accounts, but we were not allowed to deduct money owed from wages, even though we had a signed document saying the apprentice had agreed to this. I call that splitting hairs, if you excuse the pun.

“Unfortunately we can no longer allow our apprentices to pay in instalments for items, which I believe has had the opposite effect to what the minimum wage department were trying to achieve.”

After the Government report was published, Business Minister Margot James, said: “It is against the law to pay workers less than legal minimum wage rates, short-changing ordinary working people and undercutting honest employers.

“Today’s naming round identifies a record £2 million of back pay for workers and sends the clear message to employers that the government will come down hard on those who break the law.”

Melissa Tatton, Director at HM Revenue and Customs, commented: “HMRC is committed to getting money back into the pockets of underpaid workers, and continues to crack down on employers who ignore the law.

“Those not paying workers the National Minimum or Living Wage can expect to face the consequences.”

£7.50 is the current National Living Wage and the adult rate for those between 21 and 24 is £7.05.