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Council welcomes new living wage rate

This news article was published more than a year ago. Some of the information may no longer be accurate.

Published: 04/11/2014


We welcome the news that our staff will benefit from the new living wage rate of £7.85 per hour.

The voluntary living wage has been raised by 20p to £7.85 for the UK and £9.15 for London and is now 21 per cent higher than the compulsory National Minimum Wage, which is currently £6.50 an hour. The announcement was made at the start of Living Wage Week (2 to 8 November) by the Living Wage Foundation, the organisation which manages the accreditation of living wage employers and lead the campaign nationally.

It’s now a year since we introduced the living wage, benefiting over 1,500 of our lowest-paid staff.

During the national Living Wage Week we want to encourage South Gloucestershire businesses to pay the living wage to their employees. We have updated the council website with additional information to support any local businesses who are considering adopting the living wage.

Chief Executive of South Gloucestershire Council Amanda Deeks said: “The council wants lasting change for people and places in poverty, communities where everyone can thrive and a more equal society. We think it’s vital that we practice what we preach.”

South Gloucestershire Council’s three political leaders Cllr Matthew Riddle, Cllr Ruth Davis and Cllr Pat Rooney said: “We are very proud that, last year, South Gloucestershire Council voted to become a Living Wage employer. This move was achieved with all party agreement and means that all of our staff are now paid at least the National Living Wage. Although South Gloucestershire Council cannot legally compel its suppliers and providers to pay the Living Wage to their own staff, the Council is committed to working with all concerned to help achieve this goal in the future.”

The living wage is an hourly rate based on the amount needed to cover the basic costs of living. The living wage is good for both employers and the employees who receive it. Not only does it give people the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families, but research shows that it leads to higher staff morale, improved rates of retention, and lower rates of sickness absence.

For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/livingwage


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