During Living Wage Week, SNP MSP Jenni Minto celebrated news that a record 4,000 employers in Scotland are now paying their staff at least the real Living Wage, boosting the salaries of 72,000 employees.
The Real Living Wage, which is based on the cost of living, is different to the UK government’s minimum wage, often referred to as the “National Living Wage”. Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage which is currently £13.45 an hour on a voluntary basis.
Unlike the UK Government, The Scottish Government has made paying the real Living Wage a requirement for organisations receiving public grants, helping to increase the number of people benefiting from a salary boost.
As a result, Scotland has proportionately around five times as many real Living Wage employers compared to the rest of the UK.
Commenting, local SNP MSP Jenni Minto said: “Ensuring people are paid fairly is crucial to keep people out of poverty and the real Living Wage helps to make sure that salaries keep pace with the cost of living which has continued to rise under this Labour government.
“It is hugely welcome that more and more organisations here in Argyll and Bute and across Scotland are paying the real Living Wage.
“Not only does the real Living Wage help people with the rising cost of living, it improves staff retention and motivation and helps to increase spending in local economies, in turn boosting economic growth.
“I would encourage more businesses here in Argyll and Bute to recognise the benefits for employers and employees and sign up.
“I am proud that Scotland has such a high number of organisations opting to pay the real Living Wage and that the Scottish Government is an accredited real Living Wage employer. I would urge Labour to follow our lead by implementing the real Living wage in the UK Government.”
