The report starts out with a summary of the joint working involved by government departments and the Low Pay Commission in their commitment to ensuring an employee’s right to be paid the National Minimum Wage. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is responsible for Policy which includes the policy covering compliance and enforcement, however, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are responsible for carrying out actual enforcement. The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is responsible for reviewing the NMW rates and other aspects of the NMW policy on an annual basis, after which it makes its recommendations to Government.
The report confirms that 13 new enforcement officers were recruited in 2012, and there are plans to recruit a further 12 officers.
The report can be read in full and includes many examples of further joint working that has been carried out during the 18 month period to 30 September 2013.
ENFORCING THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE
24 January 2013
HMRC have produced an issue briefing which explains the approach they take to ensure that the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is paid and how arrears are returned to workers.
The briefing confirms that no employer is too big or too small to be investigated should the Pay and Work Rights Helpline refer a relevant complaint to HMRC.
And that whilst the ultimate sanction is prosecution, in the majority of cases HMRC do not resort to criminal proceedings. To date only eight employers have been convicted of offences under the national minimum wage act, however in 2011/12 a total of 72 cases were referred for civil debt pursuit, which ensured that employers paid what they owed to their workers.
LOW PAY COMMISSION (LPC) TRIENNIAL REVIEW: MARCH 2013
29 March 2013
The Department of Business Innovation & Skills has published findings from the 2012 to 2013 triennial review of the Low Pay Commission (LPC).
The Triennial review of the Low Pay Commission describes the purpose of triennial reviews, which is a Cabinet office mandated process that looks to review:
the function of Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) the appropriateness of the bodies’ delivery mechanisms their governance arrangements
If you are interested in reading the conclusions drawn and subsequent recommendations made from this review the report can be accessed in full at GOV.UK .
Pay As You Earn
Autumn Statement 2012
CIPP Policy News Journal
12/04/2013, Page 139 of 362
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