THE director of two Romsey businesses named by the government as failing to pay workers the national minimum wage has blamed HMRC for its calculations.

Businesses across the country have been listed on the document.

Red Arrow Fulfilment and Impact Call Centre Limited, of Romsey, were both on the list, with Red Arrow failing to pay 33 of its workers £3,246 while Impact owed £2,095 to 15 staff.

The director of both companies, Nick Gebbett, said it appeared they were underpaying staff because of the way HMRC did its maths.

He said: “We are not very happy that we have been bundled in with the gang-makers and fruit-pickers.

“No-one employed by me has ever been underpaid. HMRC have calculated the maths a certain way to make it seem as though we have. We pay staff for their work early in the months, towards the end, so if you look at the overall pay, they actually get more than the minimum wage. We love our staff, they make the company what it is.”

Others named in Hampshire included Southampton companies Valentinos Hair Salon and Casa Bianco, trading as The White Rooms.

Valentinos failed to pay one of its employees £472 and Casa Bianco didn’t pay another £171.

High street chains Wagamama and TGI Fridays, along with hotels giant Marriott, were also featured.

Wagamama, which has a store in Westquay, was said to have failed to pay £133,212 to 2,630 workers, the most of any of the companies named.

TGI Fridays, meanwhile, which has branches on Harbour Parade and in Westquay, shortchanged 2,302 of its staff to the tune of £59,348.

Marriott failed to pay £71,723 to 279 workers.

A TGI Fridays spokesperson said it pays the minimum wage and that its figures relate to the reimbursing of team members for a shoe allowance.

A spokesman for Marriott said: “When an error was identified by a routine HMRC audit in 2015, we co-operated fully and promptly reimbursed all those affected.”

Wagamama said it had always paid minimum wage and made sure staff receive their tips.