The bosses of Codona’s popular beach amusement park are among Scottish businesses named and shamed by the UK Government for breaking the minimum wage law.
The breaches by the 22 companies took place between 2013 and 2018.
A total of £31,000 was found to be owed to 209 workers after investigations by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
The businesses have been made to pay back what they owe, and were fined an additional £46,000.
Among the companies named are John Condona’s Pleasure Fairs Limited, which runs Codona’s in Aberdeen, owed more than £1,318 to 90 workers between March and November 2017.
A Codona’s spokesman described the underpayment to affected employees, which equated to about £14 each, as an “honest mistake” relating to staff t-shirts.
MacLeod Garages, which trades as Kiwis Garage in Stornoway, failed to pay £3,663 to one worker between April 2015 and November 2017.
J Ren Ltd, trading as Mooboo, a bubble tea shop in Glasgow’s St Enoch Shopping Centre owed £3,114 to 24 workers between 2014 and 2017.
Harbour Havens Limited, which trades as Kildonan Hotel on the Isle of Arran, was named for racking up £2,478 in arrears to four workers between 2014 and 2017.
Also named were Rainbow Rooms International hairdressers in Glasgow, South Ayrshire and East Dunbartonshire, owned by Brittain & McMail Limited, Riccardo Corvi, Janine McMahon, and Fleeson & Robb Limited.
A Cordona’s spokesman added: “We 100% have always paid the minimum wage and always will do.
“The reason this came to light in 2017 is that we deducted the cost of people’s uniforms from their wage, which took them below the minimum wage.
“As soon as HMRC notified us we paid everyone back straight away, instantly.
“We changed it and it has never happened again.”
‘Scottish employers can’t take their eye off the ball’
The Department for Business said minimum wage breaches can occur when workers being paid on or just above the minimum wage have deductions from their pay for uniform or accommodation.
Other breaches can involve paying the incorrect apprenticeship rate or failing to pay workers for all the time they had worked, such as overtime.
Business minister Paul Scully said: “Scottish employers can’t take their eye off the ball when it comes to upholding workers’ rights.
“There is never an excuse to short-change workers and paying the minimum wage isn’t optional.
“It’s up to all employers in Scotland, including those on this list, to check government guidance and pay workers properly.”
Chairman of the Low Pay Commission Bryan Sanderson said: “These are very difficult times for all workers, particularly those on low pay who are often undertaking critical tasks in a variety of key sectors including care.
“The minimum wage provides a crucial level of support and compliance is essential for the benefit of both the recipients and our society as a whole.”