A WEST Yorkshire pizza restaurant is among 48 companies named and shamed by a government minister for failing to pay staff the national minimum wage.

Call & Deliver Ltd, trading as Pizza Hut in Heckmondwike, neglected to pay £163.45 to nine workers, according to the list published today (Tues) by business minister Jo Swinson.

Between them, the named companies owe workers more than £162,000 in arrears and span sectors including fashion, publishing, hospitality, health and fitness, automotive, care and retail.

The latest list brings the total number of companies named and shamed to 210 employers, with total arrears of more than £635,000 and penalties totalling more than £248,000.

Jo Swinson said: “There’s no excuse for companies that don’t pay staff the wages they’re entitled to, whether by wilfully breaking the law or by making irresponsible mistakes.

“The Government is protecting workers by cracking down on employers who ignore minimum wage rules. In addition to naming and shaming, We’ve increased the penalty fines and boosted the resources available to investigate non-compliance.”