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Premier League football club Stoke City FC has been named on a list of employers failing to pay workers the national minimum wage.

A new list unveiled by the Business Department showed the Potters had left seven members of staff with the club owing them £1,103.

Championship club Birmingham City along with TGI Friday’s, Wagamamma, and hotel giant Marriott were also among the 179 employers on the list.

Stoke City has blamed the issue on a scheme that allowed employees to purchase tickets and merchandise via a deduction from their monthly salary.

A spokesman said: "Once this matter was brought to our attention we moved swiftly to repay the money to the members of staff concerned.

"The issue arose from our now historical practice of allowing staff to pay for tickets and retail merchandise voluntarily purchased from the club via deduction from their monthly salaries, for which the employees gave written permission for deductions to be made.

"Employees are now no longer permitted to purchase match or club lottery tickets or items from the club shop via such a wage deduction scheme.

"As a result, the reported breach will not recur and the club is confident that we are now fully compliant with all current regulations."

TGI Fridays, which has a branch on the Etruria Mill retail development, shortchanged 2,302 of its staff to the tune of £59,348.

A TGI Fridays spokesperson said: "To confirm, TGI Fridays does pay the National Minimum Wage hourly rate.

"The total figure quoted in today's HMRC list relates to reimbursing team members a shoe allowance.

"This is a historic payment which was paid last year, and we have since reimbursed team members for the purchase of their black uniform shoes."

Business Minister Andrew Griffiths says the naming and shaming is a ‘sharp reminder’ to employers as the minimum wage is set to increase on April 1.

He said: “"There are no excuses for shortchanging workers.

"This is an absolute red line for this Government and employers who cross it will get caught - not only are they forced to pay back every penny but they are also fined up to 200% of wages owed.

"Today's naming round serves as a sharp reminder to employers to get their house in order ahead of minimum wage rate rises on April 1."

On that date, the National Living Wage will go up from £7.50 to £7.83 per hour.