BOLTON'S low paid workers still earn well under the minimum legal wage according to the town's Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Unscrupulous bosses in the town have been trying to find loopholes in the law, or are simply failing to bother to pay their staff the going rate.

And staff at Bolton CAB say they are continuing to receive requests for help from people who suffer at their hands.

This comes more than a year since the National Minimum Wage came into force.

Among excuses used are claims that certain types of workers are not covered by the minimum rates.

Bosses in Bolton have told casual workers, night shift workers, workers for small firms, people paid cash in hand, home workers, staff in the first six months of the job and those whose national insurance is paid by the firm, that they are not covered by the law.

However, staff at Bolton's CAB are keen to let people know these unscrupulous bosses are wrong on all counts.

Some employers are even admitting to staff that they will be falsifying their records. Others have tried to pull the wool over workers' eyes by claiming the rate is lower than it actually is.

The minimum wage is £3.60 an hour for workers over 21 years old (£3.70 from October) and £3.20 for workers aged between 18 and 21.

The CAB say incidences of workers being paid below this rate were fairly widespread in the town with people working from home and those on piece-work hardest hit.

In one case an employer told staff he would not be paying the minimum wage, but the wage slips would show that he was. The boss added that if the proper rate was paid, jobs would be lost.

In another case an 18-year-old was told that the legal rate was £2.50 per hour, and that her hours would have to be cut.

Yet another employer claimed that the law was merely a "guideline" and was not obligatory.

A CAB spokesman said: "Sadly, all these employers were wrong on all counts and were breaking the law by doing so."

In addition the Bolton CAB has received evidence from clients to show their official hours have been cut, but they were still expected to do the same amount of work in a shorter period. In one case a cleaner had her hours cut from three to one with no reduction in workload. Other evidence has show some people have been sacked to make way for younger people paid at a lower rate. Others have lost contractual paid breaks, overtime or pay for unsocial hours.

And larger numbers of employees have been treating the minimum wage as an indication of the maximum wage payable for that job instead.

Matthew Wright, social policy co-ordinator, said: "After all the hard work and campaigning for a minimum wage we were delighted when the law was changed. It was seen as the first step in a bid to end poverty, but it seems that many of the people who stood to benefit are still no better off more than 12 months on.

"Too many employers are blatantly flouting the law, or finding ways to dodge their obligation.

"People are not being paid what they should be. People unsure of their rights under the law, can get free information and advice from the CAB in complete confidence. They need to know that there are legal ways to ensure that their employer complies with the minimum wage law.

"Employees will need to weigh up their options and we are here to help them do this. Anyone in doubt should consult us right away, or pick up a factsheet from the Mawdsley Street Bureau." BOLTON CAB has dealt with hundreds of complaints from workers who are getting a raw deal by being paid below the minimum wage.

The following are examples of genuine cases but names have been removed for confidentiality reasons.

In one example a 21 year old had been working for a wage of £30 for a 45 hour week. She was dismissed by her employer who said he would get someone in on a "Government Scheme" to avoid paying NMW.

An 18-year-old was sacked from her job in a private nursery when the NMW was introduced. Two New Deal trainees have since been taken on at a cost of £40 a week.

A nursing home worker was told by her boss that he couldn't afford to pay NMW from April 1 and would pay it when he was ready. He said anyone who "put up a fuss" would not get it at all.

A 19-year-old was working for a firm of solicitors and was being paid £1.75 an hour.

She asked for the NMW and was refused. She left and found another job and believes the firm has now taken on a 16-year-old to avoid paying the going rate.

One 65-year-old working for £3 an hour was told pensioners were not entitled to the NMW which is incorrect.

Another worker was incorrectly told they were not entitled to the NMW until they had been in the job for a year. One shop worker had a contract for a 48 hour week but had to work in the shop for 64 hours making her actual hourly rate £3.10. The employer is in breach of contract, working time regulations and NMW legislation.