Durum Restaurant in Finchley fined for underpaying five workers £977.92
Barnet business named in first Fair Work Agency crackdown on minimum wage breaches
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Durum Ocakbasi Limited, trading as Durum Restaurant on Ballards Lane in Finchley, underpaid five workers a total of £977.92. The business was named by the government on 3 September 2026 as part of a nationwide crackdown on minimum wage breaches.
The Fair Work Agency, a new enforcement body created in April 2026, published its first naming round on 3 September. The agency identified 660 employers across the UK who failed to pay the legal minimum wage, returning around £4 million to more than 27,000 underpaid workers. Employers were also fined a total of £7 million in penalties.
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Barnet business among those named
Durum Restaurant was one of two Barnet businesses named in the enforcement round. The other, Manuella Care Limited in Moon Lane, East Barnet, underpaid two workers £3,139.22. Both businesses were listed alongside restaurants, care agencies, and other employers in north London and beyond.
The Fair Work Agency, established under the Employment Rights Act, now oversees enforcement of workers’ rights. Its first naming round focused on minimum wage breaches, but the agency is expected to expand its remit to include unpaid holiday and sick pay.
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“Underpaying your staff is illegal, and we will not let workers foot the bill for their boss failing to follow the rules.”
Kate Dearden, minister for the Future of Work
What happens next
The Fair Work Agency confirmed that further enforcement rounds will take place. Workers who believe they are being underpaid can check their pay and report breaches at gov.uk/checkyourpay. Employers are legally required to pay at least the minimum wage for all hours worked, based on a worker’s age or apprentice status.
Questions this report answers
+How much did Durum Restaurant underpay its workers?
Durum Restaurant in Finchley underpaid five workers a total of £977.92, as confirmed by the Fair Work Agency on 3 September 2026. The business was named in a nationwide enforcement round targeting minimum wage breaches.
+What is the Fair Work Agency?
The Fair Work Agency is a new enforcement body created in April 2026 under the Employment Rights Act. It oversees workers’ rights, including minimum wage enforcement, and will expand to tackle unpaid holiday and sick pay.
+What happens if an employer underpays workers?
Employers who underpay workers face penalties, public naming, and must repay the owed wages. The Fair Work Agency enforces these rules, with workers able to report breaches at gov.uk/checkyourpay.
+How can workers check if they are being paid correctly?
Workers can visit gov.uk/checkyourpay to verify their pay meets the legal minimum wage. The site provides guidance on reporting breaches and understanding wage rights.
Barnet Press News Desk
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