Inverclyde Council introduces new living wage rate

Inverclyde Council has announced that it is to introduce the new living wage rate of £8.25 for its staff, benefiting 675 of its lowest paid employees.

Inverclyde is the first council in Scotland to pay the new rate, which was announced on 2 November. It will backdate the wage increase to that date.

The living wage is a voluntary rate set by the Living Wage Foundation based on the cost of living.

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Employers who commit to paying the living wage can apply for accreditation as a living wage employer. The accreditation scheme is operated in Scotland by the Poverty Alliance.

Inverclyde is in the process of applying for accreditation.

Inverclyde Council Leader Councillor Stephen McCabe said: “The living wage pays a fair rate for low paid workers.

“It’s there to protect low paid workers and make sure they are paid a fair and reasonable rate for the work they carry out.” 

“Now that the national rate has increased it is right that we reflect that in the money paid to our lowest paid workers.

Councillor McCabe urged employers across Inverclyde and Scotland to embrace the living wage and join the campaign to increase the hourly rate for low paid employees.

“I hope that this sends a message to other employers both in the public and private sector to adopt the living wage for their own employees,” he added.

Around 20 per cent of workers in Scotland currently earn less than the living wage.

A number of Scottish local authorities have committed to paying their employees the living wage, although only Dumfries and Galloway Council and Falkirk Council are accredited living wage employers.