ALLAN CALLS ON LOCAL ORGANISATIONS TO ADOPT THE NEW £8.45 LIVING WAGE

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan today welcomed the new Scottish Living Wage rate of £8.45 an hour and encouraged more employers in the isles to sign up as Accredited Living Wage Employers.

The Scottish Living Wage, calculated to meet the cost of living, is reviewed every year based on living standards.

The rise of 20 pence per hour will benefit thousands of workers at Living Wage-accredited organisations across Scotland, including many in the Isles. Last year Calmac gained Living Wage Foundation status in Scotland.

Alasdair Allan is a recently accredited Living Wage employer, and works with the Scottish Living Wage Accreditation Initiative to promote the Living Wage.

Alasdair Allan commented:

“The new Living Wage of £8.45 will be a welcome pay rise for thousands of workers across Scotland, ensuring that people’s basic wage continues to meet the real costs of living.

“I would encourage all businesses in the islands to at least consider becoming Scottish Living Wage employers. There’s a huge amount of benefit to employers who pay the Living Wage. As well as being an investment in people, evidence shows it leads to increased productivity and reduced staff absence and turnover. It also sends a strong signal to customers about fairness, with 70% of Living Wage employers stating it had increased consumer awareness of their organisation’s commitment to be an ethical employer.

“With millions of workers worse off as a result of the UK Government’s welfare cuts, and low pay one of the main drivers of in-work poverty, employers can make a real difference by choosing to pay the real Living Wage.

“I encourage all businesses in the Isles to recognise the benefits of paying the real Living Wage.”