A BELATED coalition attempt to look tough on firms which cheat on the minimum wage was criticised by union leaders yesterday as a drop in the ocean compared to Britain’s cost of living crisis. 

The government’s heavily touted crackdown on crooked employers, which kicked off last year, outed 25 companies which had been paying less than the national minimum wage.

Between them the firms, which include a hire company, a hairdressers, a hotel and a retail outlet, owe workers more than £43,000 in arrears, and face fines totalling more than £21,000.