Five businesses in Northern Ireland have been "named and shamed" by the UK's Department for Business, Innovation & Skills for failing to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage.

The firms which all operated in the care, retail and hospitality sectors were on a list of 70 employers in the UK investigated by the government for not fairly paying their workers.

They included; Manleys Ltd, Belfast who neglected to pay £3,797.83 to three workers and Kevin and Bernadette Farrell, trading as Derrygonnelly Autos, Enniskillen who also neglected to pay £1,690.35 to an employee.

The other three companies identified in the North were; Phillip Campbell and Mrs Lorraine Campbell trading as Supervalu Kells, Ballymena who neglected to pay £905.86 to two workers,

Grove Mechanical Services Ltd, Magherafelt, who failed to pay £107.00 to two workers and Julie Ann Wright trading as The Worx, Portadown who neglected to pay £1,110.60 to an employee.

The UK's business minister Jo Swinson said paying less than the minimum wage was illegal, immoral and completely unacceptable.

“Naming and shaming gives a clear warning to employers who ignore the rules, that they will face reputational consequences as well as financial penalties of up to £20,000 if they don’t pay the minimum wage.

“We’re working hard in areas where we know there are particular problems, like the care sector, to make sure staff are paid fairly for the hard work they do,” Ms Swinson added.

Every employer in the UK has a duty to be aware of the different legal rate for the National Minimum Wage which varies from an apprentice rate of £2.73 per hour to the adult rate (21 and over) of £6.50 per hour.