TWO businesses in Oxfordshire have been caught out for failing to pay their staff minimum wage.

Idlewild Hairdressing in Witney and Siam House in Banbury are just two of 230 employers across the UK who have built up a record £2m back pay for 13,000 of the lowest paid workers.

Idlewild Hairdressing accrued almost £5,000 for underpaying two of their workers, while Siam House accrued £300 for two workers and have been named as part of the government's scheme to name employers who have failed to pay National Wage and Living Wage.

Representatives for either company were unavailable for comment but, as well as paying back staff the money owed, they will have to contribute to a total fine of £1.9m by the government.

Since 2013, the scheme has identified £6m back pay for 40,000 workers, with 1,200 employers fined £4m and retail, hairdressing and hospitality businesses among the most prolific offenders.

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 £2m 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."

Common errors made by employers in this round included deducting money from pay packets to pay for uniforms, failure to account for overtime hours, and wrongly paying apprentice rates to workers.

Melissa Tatton, Director at HM Revenue and Customs said: "HMRC is committed to getting money back into the pockets of underpaid workers."