BP to pay 5,000 employees the real living wage

Oil and gas organisation BP is to increase hourly pay rates for its 5,000 UK retail employees, to bring these in line with the real living wage rates recommended by the Living Wage Foundation. 

From 1 August 2020, employees across 300 locations, and who are directly employed by BP, will now earn a minimum hourly rate of £9.30 countrywide and £10.75 in London.

The real living wage is a voluntary minimum level calculated every year to meet the real cost of living, separate from the legal minimum wage, currently set at £8.21.

The move means that the organisation will now seek to become an accredited living wage employer.

Bernard Looney, chief executive officer at BP, said: “It’s important to recognise the numerous challenges faced by our front-line staff, which have been highlighted during the current crisis.”