Council calls for employers to pay the living wage
Renfrewshire Council is calling on all its suppliers to pay their employees a living wage of at least £7.50 an hour.
In November, 800 council workers saw their pay increase to the level of the living wage and councillors believe that the benefits of this should be extended to the wider work force.
Councillor Mike Homes, Depute Leader of Renfrewshire Council, is a strong advocate of the living wage. “It’s the right thing to do,” he explains. “Pay less than a living wage and you force people onto benefits and lead them to look for work elsewhere. Pay a living wage and research shows that you get a more loyal, productive and flexible workforce.
“At a time when the UK government’s welfare reform will see household incomes shrink and as much as £22million withdrawn from the local economy, we will do everything we can to protect and improve livelihoods in Renfrewshire.
“We’ll work within the legal framework to encourage our suppliers to pay a living wage and we have already included that question in our tender documents.
“Renfrewshire’s residents and workers deserve a fair deal and our businesses need their commitment and flexibility.”
Four out of five people who earn less than £7.20 an hour work in the private sector. Public organisations, such as the council, are taking the lead by ensuring that they pay the living wage.
It is clear though, that if unfeasibly low wages are to be eradicated in Renfrewshire, it will take a combined effort from all sectors of the economy and every part of our community.
Employers and employees can find out more about the campaign for living wages at www.livingwage.org.uk/about-living-wage.