The majority of 52 Exeter employment agencies visited by National Minimum Wage (NMW) and Employment Agency Standards (EAS) enforcement officers were found to be in breach of employment laws.

In a statement, HM Revenue & Customs says that 17 officers from HMRC (NMW) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS – EAS) targeted and questioned the agencies based across the city on 25 and 26 January.

Following the visits, HMRC officers will carry out further investigations in nine cases where companies are suspected of not meeting NMW regulations.

EAS officers also identified 102 breaches of Employment Agency legislation, and these will also be followed up.

Michelle Wyer, assistant director of NMW for HMRC, says: “Paying the national minimum wage isn’t optional, it is a worker’s legal right. It is simply not acceptable for an employer or employment agency to operate outside the law. We will help employers to understand their responsibilities, but will also relentlessly pursue those who deliberately break the law.”