The Living Wage Foundation has announced its new Living Wage rate at £9 per hour and £10.55 per hour for those living in London.
The rates are independently calculated based on what people need to live in the UK and London. This year’s increases, of 25p per hour and 35p per hour respectively, have been attributed to higher transport costs, private rents and council tax.
More than 4,700 employers are signed-up to the Living Wage and it is expected that more than 180,000 workers will receive a pay rise as a result of the increase. This independently calculated rate is set at £1.17 per hour more than the government’s minimum wage (for over 25s) and the London Living Wage is £2.72 higher.
Living Wage Foundation Director, Tess Lanning, said: “The Living Wage campaign is about tackling the rising problem of people paid less than they need to live. Responsible businesses know that the government minimum is not enough to live on, and today’s new Living Wage rates will provide a boost for hundreds of thousands of workers throughout the UK.”
The Foundation is calling on more employers, particularly public bodies such as councils and universities, to pay the higher rate that enables workers to meet the financial pressures of today. It believes that by targeting public institutes other local employers will follow their lead.
