Glasgow City Council has been accredited as a living wage employer as part of its commitment to pay all of its more than 28,000 employees a wage they can live on.
Everyone working at the local authority, including regular workers employed through third-party suppliers, will now receive a minimum hourly wage of at least £10.90 per hour. This is higher than the UK government minimum wage for those aged 23 and above, which currently stands at £10.42 per hour.
The real living wage is calculated according to the costs of living, with employers choosing to pay the rate on a voluntary basis to ensure that a hard day’s work receives a fair day’s pay and as part of a recognition of the value of their workers.
Councillor Allan Casey, convener for workforce at Glasgow City Council, said: “It is both pleasing and significant that Glasgow City Council is now an accredited living wage employer. As one of the biggest employers in the city and indeed Scotland, it is important that we support our employees in this way. Given the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, the value of the living wage, which is based on living costs, is clear and aligns with the council’s Fair Work ambitions and practices.”
Lynn Anderson, manager at Living Wage Scotland, added: “We’re delighted that Glasgow City Council has become an accredited living wage employer. It joins a growing movement of more than 3000 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need.”
Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has given a pay rise to more than 60,000 Scottish workers in Scotland and put an extra £370 million into the pockets of lower-paid staff. According to Living Wage Scotland, around 221,000 jobs are still paid less than the real living wage.