Scottish Living Wage set at £8.45

The new Living Wage rate of £8.45 an hour has been set in Scotland with Nicola Sturgeon urging more Scottish organisations to sign up as Accredited Living Wage Employers.

The rise of 20 pence will benefit thousands of employees at Living Wage-accredited organisations in Scotland. The Living Wage that meets the real costs of living is reviewed every year using the best evidence about living standards in the UK.

The First Minister said: “The new Living Wage of £8.45 will be a welcome pay rise for thousands of Scottish workers and ensures people’s basic wage continues to meet the real costs of living. 630 employers in Scotland are now accredited Living Wage employers and I want to see all businesses implement the new Living Wage rates as soon as possible.

“For business, paying the Living Wage makes sense - it’s an investment in people and all the evidence shows it leads to increased productivity and reduced staff absence and turnover, while sending a strong signal to customers about fairness.

“Yet we also know around 20 per cent of Scotland’s workforce earn less than the Living Wage. With low pay one of the main drivers of in-work poverty, it’s vital that employers who can pay the real Living Wage do so. We’ll continue to work with the Living Wage Foundation and the Poverty Alliance to encourage more businesses to recognise the benefits of paying the real Living Wage.”

Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, added: “As we kick off Living Wage Week today, we are celebrating the over 600 employers in Scotland and nearly 3,000 employers across the UK who lead the way on tackling low pay by paying the real Living Wage. The sheer growth of our movement shows that the Living Wage is good for people and good for business.”