A WORKER in Swindon lost out on more than £1,400 in wages because employer Runbaro Ltd, which is associated with a town hotel, failed to pay them the minimum wage.

Runbaro is believed to manage Campanile Hotel & Restaurant in Delta Business Park, Great Western Way, but staff at the site were unwilling to comment.

The only acknowledgement on the hotel’s website is that the site is provided by Runbaro Ltd. A spokeswoman at the Department for Business said Campanile was the employer of the worker concerned.

The Campanile chain itself is owned by French firm Louvre Hotels Group.

Under a new regime introduced last October, which makes it easier for the Department for Business to name and shame wrongdoers, Runbaro was exposed for neglecting to pay one worker £1,413.88.

South West TUC Regional Secretary Nigel Costley said: "It’s great that minimum wage crooks are finally getting named and shamed.

“Under-paying your lowest paid staff is immoral and illegal. Employers caught in the act deserve to be fined and have their reputation ruined.

“This should send a clear message that dodging the minimum wage does not pay. All minimum wage cheats should be named and shamed, and HMRC need greater resources to catch even more crooks.”

The Government has introduced a series of tougher measures to crack down on employers that break National Minimum Wage law.

As well as being publicly named and shamed, employers that fail to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage also face new penalties of up to £20,000 - four times higher than before.

The Runbaro case was thoroughly investigated by HM Revenue & Customs after workers made complaints to the free and confidential Pay and Work Rights helpline.

If you are or know the worker underpaid by Runbaro Ltd, please do not hesitate to contact the Adver newsdesk on 01793 501800.