Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many homecare workers and residential care workers are paid less than the minimum wage.

Official estimates of jobs paid below the NMW derive from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). Table 1.7 (page 18) of the Low Pay Commission National Minimum Wage Spring 2016 Report (Cm 9207) shows the proportion of jobs held by those aged 21 and over paid below the minimum wage by sector using ASHE –

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-minimum-wage-low-pay-commission-report-2015

ASHE estimates are not a direct measure of non-compliance with the NMW legislation as it includes some jobs paid below the NMW for legitimate reasons (e.g. where employees receive free accommodation) and it may not account for all travel and sleeping time.

Over the period from 1 April 2013 to 31^st March 2016, HMRC opened 482 investigations into the social care sector. NMW underpayment has been found in 129 cases closed so far and resulted in the payment of over £702,000 to 3,868 workers. Employers have been charged penalties totalling over £150,500 for failing to comply with the law.

We have increased the budget for HMRC, who enforce the minimum wage on behalf of the Department, to £20 million for 2016/17, up from £13 million last year. This will bolster HMRC’s resources and ensure that they continue to respond to every worker complaint.

Any worker who is concerned that they have not received what they are entitled to should call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 for confidential advice. HMRC follow up every complaint.

We will also continue to undertake targeted enforcement in this sector to ensure workers are paid what they are legally owed.