The 198 companies named collectively owed £466,219 in debts, across a range of employers including football clubs, hotels, care homes and hairdressers. All of the money owed to these workers has been paid back to them.

The scheme was introduced in October 2013 and since then 688 employers have been publicly named with debts totalling more than £3.5m.

Business Minister, Margot James said: ‘This government is determined to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few. That means making sure everyone gets paid the wages they are owed – including our new, higher, National Living Wage.

‘It is not acceptable that some employers fail to pay at least the minimum wage their workers are entitled to. So we’ll continue to crack down on those who ignore the law, including by naming and shaming them.’

The top three offenders on the list included a restaurant in Wimbledon called San Lorenzo that owed £99,541.98 to 30 workers. An industrial recruitment agency in Derby, Premier Recruitment, owed 424 workers £34,797.33 and well-known Regis UK Ltd. salons owed 604 workers £25,712.19.

The National Living Wage (NLW) for workers aged 25 and over was introduced in April this year, which has meant a pay rise of more than £900-a-year for someone previously working full time on the NMW.

The full list of National Minimum Wage offenders is here.