HUNDREDS of North West employers have been investigated for not paying the minimum wage.

And dozens have been ordered to make sure they pay their workers what they are entitled to.

The Inland Revenue said it had received 283 complaints against employers in the North West since the legislation came in earlier this year - the second highest figure in the country.

Nationally employers who refused to pay the minimum wage have had to hand over payments worth more than £500,000 after action from enforcement officers, it was announced today.

The Government warned employers that investigations into underpayments would continue in the New Year.

A total of 66 enforcement notices have now been served by officers following up thousands of complaints about firms refusing to pay the statutory rate.

Competitiveness minister Alan Johnson said: "Enforcement is working which is good news for all those businesses who are playing fair but are being undercut by unscrupulous and mean rivals.

"Employers not paying the minimum wage had better make a New Year's resolution to pay up, or our enforcers will be after them. Poverty pay is the ghost of Christmas past and has no place in the new millennium."

Across the country around 3,400 complaints have been made since the minimum wage of £3.60 an hour for adults and £3 for younger workers.

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