MacArthur Green is now accredited as a Living Wage employer. The Living Wage commitment will ensure that everyone working here will receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.90. This new Living Wage rate was announced on Monday 15th November as part of
Living Wage Week. This rate is significantly higher than the government minimum for anyone over 23, which currently stands at £8.91 per hour.
The real Living Wage rate this year reflects the sharply rising fuel and rent costs. The real Living Wage is different to the Government minimum wage for people over 23 years old, called the ‘National Living Wage’ (NLW). The real Living Wage is independently calculated based on living costs and is paid by employers voluntarily, whilst the government’s NLW is based on a percentage of median earnings, and all employers are required to pay it.
This announcement comes during Living Wage week (15-19th November), an annual celebration of the real Living Wage in the UK. In Scotland, more than 14% of all jobs pay less than the real Living Wage – around 330,000 jobs. Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 52,000 people in Scotland and put over £310 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.
Kirsty MacArthur, Director of MacArthur Green “We work hard at being an good employer, and with the cost of living increasing so quickly, we felt it was important to pursue formal accreditation as a Living Wage employer. Not only does it show our support for this
important initiative, but it hopefully raise awareness with other SME businesses too”.
Peter Kelly, Director of The Poverty Alliance said: “We all need an income that is enough to cover our needs and protect us from poverty, and it’s only right that employers pay a wage that reflects the cost of living. Too many workers in Scotland are paid less than the real Living Wage and, at a time of rising costs, are struggling to stay afloat. The real Living Wage can offer protection from those rising costs.”
“Congratulations to MacArthur Green on their Living Wage commitment, and I hope more organisations follow their lead by becoming Living Wage accredited.”
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager said: “We’re delighted that MacArthur Green has become an accredited Living Wage employer. During Living Wage Week, it’s important to highlight those employers such as MacArthur Green that have done right by workers and families, providing them with much needed security and stability even when times are hard. They join a growing movement of over 2400 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need to thrive.”
“Our Living Wage employer network includes lots of smaller employers as well as larger and iconic brands like SSE, abrdn, Barrs, & D.C. Thomson. We hope to see many more employers following their example.”
Further information
What about the Government’s national living wage?
In July 2015 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the UK Government would introduce a compulsory ‘national living wage’. It was introduced in April 2016, originally applying for all workers over the age of 25, and, as of April 2021, is currently £8.91 an hour and applies for workers over the age of 23. The rate is due to increase to £9.50 per hour in April 2022. The national living wage rate is different to the Living Wage rates calculated by the Living Wage Foundation. The government rate is based on median earnings while the Living Wage Foundation rates are calculated according to the cost of living in London and the UK.
About the real Living Wage
The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to what people need to make ends meet. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that choose to ensure their staff earn a wage that meets the costs and pressures they face in their everyday lives. The UK Living Wage is currently £9.90 per hour. There is a separate London Living Wage rate of £11.05 per hour. These rates were announced on 15th November 2021 as part of Living Wage Week – the annual celebration of the Living Wage movement in the UK. The rates are calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in London and the UK. The Living Wage Foundation is the organisation at the heart of the UK movement of businesses, organisations and individuals who campaign for the simple idea that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.
About Living Wage Scotland & The Poverty Alliance
Living Wage Scotland was established in April 2014 by the Poverty Alliance with the aim of increasing the number of employers in Scotland who are recognised for paying their staff the real Living Wage. Living Wage Scotland is a partnership with the Living Wage Foundation and is funded by the Scottish Government.
The Poverty Alliance is the national anti-poverty network in Scotland with a long track record in working with individuals and communities affected by poverty to take action, and in providing support to influence policies solutions in Scotland. Accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland span private, public and third sectors. SMEs make up 75% of the total number of employers and more than half of Scotland’s local councils are accredited. Find out more at www.scottishlivingwage.org
