"Today's announcement by the Attorney General that the Government intends to shortly introduce legislation into Parliament providing for 'significant jail terms and fines' for employers who engage in serious underpayments, is concerning. While the legislation will reportedly be targeted at serious and deliberate conduct, it will undoubtedly act as yet another major barrier to employment. Small business people in particular will be much less likely to take on their first employee, or additional employees, when they will worry that underpayments could lead to lengthy jail terms," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.