Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will increase the maximum magistrates' court fines for non-payment of the national minimum wage.

Anyone who is a worker is entitled to be paid at least the minimum wage. The Government is cracking down on employers who break the law by not paying the minimum wage. Failure to comply with national minimum wage legislation is punishable in the magistrates’ courts with a fine not exceeding £5,000. Under provisions in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, once commenced, all fines and maximum fines of £5,000 and more will become unlimited. This will give magistrates greater powers to deal with the most serious offenders who come before them, including those who fail to comply with national minimum wage legislation. The Government intends to bring this provision into force as soon as possible.