Six companies in Kent have been “named and shamed” by the government for failing to pay workers the full national minimum wage.

The firms owed a combined total of £6,900.48 to workers and include two hairdressers, a plumber, a joinery, an IT company and a wine bar.

It comes as the government unveils details of 360 businesses nationally which underpaid staff a total of £995,233.

As well as recovering arrears for some of the UK’s lowest paid workers, HMRC issued penalties worth around £800,000.

Hairdressing, hospitality and the retail sectors were identified as the worst offenders.

Daniel Jordan London, a hairdresser in Sevenoaks which appears to have closed in 2014, was the worst offender in the county, having failed to pay £2,471.58 to a worker.

Harvey & Bacon, a plumber business in Ashford, was rapped for underpaying two staff a total of £1,622.14.

The other offenders in Kent were:

• Beadles Joinery in Chatham, which failed to pay £1,248.34 to one worker
• Ralph Spence trading as Ralphs Hairdressing in West Malling, which failed to pay £1,124.18 to one worker
• Digi-Cat Media in Ashford which failed to pay £249.99 to one worker
• JF Merchants trading as Bin Ella Wine and Champagne Bar in Faversham, which failed to pay £184.25 to one worker.

Business Minister Margot James said: “Every worker in the UK is entitled to at least the national minimum or living wage and this government will ensure they get it.

“That is why we have named and shamed more than 350 employers who failed to pay the legal minimum, sending the clear message to employers that minimum wage abuses will not go unpunished.

"Minimum wage abuses will not go unpunished..." - Business Minister Margot James

“Excuses for underpaying workers included using tips to top up pay, docking workers’ wages to pay for their Christmas party and making staff pay for their own uniforms out of their salary.”

From April 1, the minumum paid to staff, now known as the national living wage, rises from £7.20 to £7.50 for people aged 25 and over.

It increases to £7.05 an hour for 21 to 24 year olds, £5.60 for 18 to 20 year olds, £4.05 an hour for 16 to 17 year olds and £3.50 for apprentices.

Since the naming and shaming scheme was introduced by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in October 2013, more than 1,000 employers have been named, with arrears totalling more than £4.5 million.

More than £2 million in fines have been issued to national minimum and living wage offenders. There are currently more than 1,500 open cases which HMRC is investigating.