BBC News Published image sourceGetty Images Pret, McColls and Welcome Break are among almost 200 firms "named and shamed" by the government for not paying workers the minimum wage. In total, 191 companies investigated between 2011 and 2018 failed to pay £2.1m to more than 34,000 workers. The businesses were made to pay back the money as well as being fined £3.2m. Pret, McColls and Welcome Break said the underpayments were historic errors and staff had been swiftly reimbursed. Nearly half of the breaches involved firms deducting pay from wages, for things like uniforms and expenses. Others failed to pay for all the time staff worked or paid the incorrect apprenticeship rate.