French Connection and Foot Locker are among 48 employers that MPs have publicly named for paying their workers less than the minimum wage under new moves that have seen over 200 companies ‘named and shamed’ over minimum wage underpayments so far.

Together, the companies owe workers £162,000 and face fines of £67,000.

Freedom Sportsline, trading as Foot Locker, owes more than £16,700 to 601 employees while fashion retailer French Connection, failed to pay almost £16,500 to 367 workers.

A spokesman for French Connection said the underpayments were regrettable but the amounts were small in most cases.

"French Connection co-operated fully with HMRC in assessing the amounts involved and paid the arrears at the earliest possible opportunity. French Connection fully supports the UK Government's minimum wage legislation and we are apologising to our staff for the inconvenience," he added.

The accused companies have 28 days to appeal against the allegations.