Martin Lewis says ‘spread the word’ as 370,000 were underpaid in 2024

is urging people to “spread the word” as a new report shows hundreds of thousands have been underpaid last year.

The (NLW), which is paid to employees aged 21 and over, increased to £11.44 an hour last April.

However, new figures form the (LPC) estimates as many as 371,000 people on minimum wage were being paid less than they should have been.

In his latest Money Saving Expert (MSE) , the financial journalist wrote: “Even if your payslip shows you get over £11.44 per hour, that mightn’t be the whole story. Check (and recover what’s due).”

He added: “Big names such as Easyjet, Greggs and Moss Bros have got it wrong. Spread word.”

According to the LPC’s report, of the underpaid NLW population, as many as 140,000 were underpaid by more than 50p per hour, with a similar number paid within 10p of the NLW.

Data published alongside the most recent naming rounds indicate deductions and unpaid working time are the leading causes of underpayment logged by , each occurring in more than one in three cases.

The MSE newsletter continues: “With the set to jump in April, it’s even more important all those on lower incomes don’t just assume their employers are following the rules.

“For example, in February 2024, Easyjet, Greggs, Moss Bros and Estée Lauder were among those included in the Government’s , though some of the reasons were complex – a new list’s due soon. So it’s worth checking…”

The National Living Wage is set to rise again this year, hitting £12.21 an hour in April.

The minimum wage paid to people aged between 18 and 20 will rise from £8.60 to £10 an hour, while the rate paid to those aged under 18 will increase from £6.40 to £7.55.

While the rise has been welcomed by many, retailers warn it could cost thousands – particularly people in entry level positions – their jobs.

In a joint letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, a coalition of some the UK’s largest retailers, including Tesco, Amazon, John Lewis, and Aldi, wrote: “The sheer scale of new costs and the speed with which they occur create a cumulative burden that will make job losses inevitable, and higher prices a certainty.”

A shows firms anticipate a significant slowdown in wage growth and employment over the next year.

Alarmingly, 53% of firms expect to reduce employment, and 39% foresee cutting wages compared to previous plans.