The UK Government has "named and shamed" three Scottish construction firms for failing to pay their workers the national minimum wage.

The guilty companies are K Construction (Scotland) Ltd, Newlay Civil Engineering Ltd and Ryce Limited.

Overall, 21 Scottish companies were highlighted in the figures, with a total of 198 UK companies owing workers £466,219.

Edinburgh-based K Construction owed two workers £1916.61, North Lanarkshire business Newlay owed £1,860.60 to one worker and Fife-based Ryce owned £935.96 to one employee.

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Business Minister Margot James said: "This government is determined to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.

"That means making sure everyone gets paid the wages they are owed – including our new, higher, National Living Wage. It is not acceptable that some employers fail to pay at least the minimum wage their workers are entitled to.

"So we'll continue to crack down on those who ignore the law, including by naming and shaming them."

Union Unite's Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty added: "The best protection for workers is when they come together to protect themselves - and that means joining a trade union.

"Some of these employers might have made honest mistakes, but there are still too many rogue companies who try to prop up their profits by exploiting their workers. And there are too many Scottish workers who are being intimidated and scared into going along with it."

(LM/CD)