Fair Work Agency: complain about pay and work rights
The Fair Work Agency (started in April 2026) enforces the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, regulates employment agencies in England, Scotland and Wales, acts against serious labour exploitation, and takes steps against employers that do not pay a tribunal award or an Acas settlement. You complain about pay below the minimum wage, an employment agency, a gangmaster or working hours using an online form. You can report an employer even if you no longer work there.
Good to know
Complaints about pay go on the online form. For help with the form, call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100, which has a free translation service. The Agency's 0345 161 6000 line (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, except public holidays) is for general enquiries such as freedom of information requests, media requests, subject access requests and complaints about the Agency itself, and for advice on gangmaster licensing. HMRC runs the minimum wage complaints for the Agency, and you can tell HMRC on the form not to give your employer information about who complained. The Agency says it does not handle all employment issues: for advice on rights, help with a workplace dispute and early conciliation, contact Acas. To report serious abuse or exploitation at work, meaning you are being controlled, threatened or manipulated, use the online form or email contact@fairworkagency.gov.uk, or call the free line 0800 432 0804; the Agency says calling can take longer than using the form or email. It is not an emergency service: call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger.
Before you call
Have ready
- for a report of serious abuse: what the abuse is, where it is happening or happened, any pictures or documents, and your name and contact details (you do not have to give your name)
They can
- take a complaint about pay below the National Minimum Wage, an employment agency, a gangmaster or working hours through the online form, even if you no longer work for the employer
- keep your name from your employer if you tell HMRC on the form
- take a report of serious abuse or exploitation by the online form, by email (contact@fairworkagency.gov.uk) or on the free line 0800 432 0804
They cannot
- give advice on your employment rights, resolve a workplace dispute or run early conciliation: Acas does those
- take your complaint forward if you have already started tribunal action for a National Minimum Wage issue
- answer the 0800 432 0804 line outside 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (you can leave a voice message), or replace 999 if anyone is in immediate danger; the Agency says the form and email are quicker than the phone
In the emergency guides: I haven't been paid my wages →
- Website
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-and-work-rights-complaints
- Hours
- Online form any time. Serious abuse line, 0800 432 0804: free, answered 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday; you can leave a voice message outside those hours.
- Languages
- English
- Last checked
- October 10, 2026
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