THREE Basingstoke companies have been named for failing to pay workers the minimum wage by the Government.

Elis UK, a commercial laundry business based in the area, was placed on the UK Government list of more than 500 employers for failing to pay 1,801 workers £257,265.44.

Video game retailer, Game, is also on the list for failing to pay £58,475.54 to 4,979 workers, as well as Basingstoke motor specialists, Grantleys, for failing to pay one worker £2,262.52.

Basingstoke Gazette: Game, Grantleys and Elis UK

READ MORE: Two arrested after nunchucks and £10k seized from Basingstoke property during raid

The mechanics business has said it is 'absolutely devastated' to be on the list, as it was an 'honest mistake' that should've been spotted by accountants.

A spokesperson for the company added: "We are on the list, and we are very well aware of that.

"We had an apprentice working for the company, who was not spotted as a mature apprentice by our accountants, which led to him being paid one pound less per hour than he needed to be."

Grantleys says the incident caused the Government to carry out checks to ensure that the employee was being paid minimum wage.

They added: "We were unaware that he was being underpaid, and once the check went ahead with someone from the Government, he no longer worked for us."

The company says they then contacted the employee, asking for his details to pay any shortfall as it's 'not how we wanted things done'.

"We were absolutely devastated, as it was an honest mistake to make, and wasn't intentionally done."

SEE ALSO: Luxury hotel near Basingstoke named as fifth best place to stay for 2024 by The Times

On the list is 524 employers across the country which have been ordered to repay nearly £16m after breaches left more than 172,000 workers out of pocket.

The investigations by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) were carried out between 2015 and 2023.

The list, which was published on February 20, comes as the National Living Wage is set to increase by 9.8 per cent to £11.44 an hour on April 1, as announced in the Government’s Autumn statement.

Game Retail and Elis UK were contacted by the Gazette but did not wish to comment.

The full list can be viewed at gov.uk/government/news/over-500-companies-named-for-not-paying-minimum-wage