Fordingbridge Farm Shop, which closed unexpectedly in October 2023 after less than six months of trading under new owners, failed to pay £14,897.58 to 16 workers.
The underpayments were uncovered as part of a wider government crackdown on employers failing to pay the National Minimum Wage.
Kate Dearden, employment rights minister, said: “Workers in Chatham and Woking shouldn’t have to chase their boss to be paid properly.
“That’s why we’re cracking down on employers who underpay.
“We’re making sure workers get the hard earned pay they deserve.
“I encourage every employer to check their payroll to ensure they don’t get caught out.”
The case is part of a ‘naming round’ of employers in the South East who have been publicly identified by the government for illegally underpaying workers.
A total of 39 businesses in the region were found to have shortchanged employees, with nearly £2.8 million in unpaid wages now repaid to around 18,000 workers.
These employers have faced almost £5m in penalties as a result.
Across the UK, 389 employers have been fined around £12.6m in addition to repaying the wages owed.
The breaches were found across a wide range of sectors, including social care, retail, and sports.
This is the first naming round since the Budget announcement to publish cases more frequently, with the aim of encouraging prompt payroll compliance and ensuring quicker justice for underpaid workers.
It also marks the final round before the launch of the Fair Work Agency on April 7, a new enforcement body created under the Employment Rights Act.
The agency will consolidate workers’ rights enforcement under one roof and provide employers with a single point of guidance on wage and employment laws.
It will have extended powers to tackle wider issues, including unpaid holiday and sick pay.
This announcement comes ahead of a National Minimum Wage increase in April, which will see the rate rise to £12.71 per hour from £12.21 for workers aged 21 and over.
The government has also pledged to extend Statutory Sick Pay to an additional three million workers, freeze the five pence fuel duty cut, and cap energy prices to save households an estimated £117 next month.
The Journal’s attempts to contact Fordingbridge Farm Shop have been unsuccessful.