This week marks Living Wage Week, a UK-wide celebration of the Living Wage movement.
Living Wage Week aims to raise awareness of the need for a real Living Wage that meets the cost of living. It also celebrates those employers who already signed up to the scheme and ensure that their employees receive the Living Wage.
The Living Wage Foundation also recently announced that the voluntary living wage had increased. The London living wage now stands at £9.75, up 35p from last year; the UK living wage is currently £8.45, up 20p from last year.
Nearly 3,000 organisations have signed up to the scheme across the UK, with over 1,000 businesses in London. The list of accredited employers includes high profile names including Aviva, Burberry, KPMG, Barclays, Capgemini, EY, Google, Lloyd’s, Lush, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Unilever and UNISON, amongst many more.
Living Wage Foundation are campaigning for employers to go further for their staff and pay a real Living Wage, based on the cost of living and not just the government minimum.
The government’s ‘National Living Wage’ came into affect in April 2016, and legally entitles anyone over the age of 25 to £7.20 an hour. However, the minimum wage still applies for workers aged 24 and under.
They also offer accreditation to employers who agree to be part of the scheme, alongside advice and support. Every November, the foundation releases new data on the real Living Wage rates for all employees in London and throughout the UK.
The foundation also promotes the Living Wage campaign, which calls for further employers to implement a wage that is enough to live on.
To find out more about Living Wage Week, click here.
