Ribble Valley Borough Council in Lancashire has received living wage employer accreditation.
As a result of the accreditation, all employees working at the council aged 18 or over, except apprentices, will now be paid a minimum hourly wage of £12.60. This is higher than the government’s minimum wage for employees aged 21 and over, which is currently £12.21.
Ribble Valley councillors decided to make this commitment as around 510,000 jobs in the north west of England, equating to 17%, pay less than the real living wage. The council wanted to provide a decent standard of living for qualifying council workers by paying them this rate.
The real living wage rate is independently calculated based on the cost of living. It aims to give employers the confidence that they are paying wages that meet every day needs.
The rate is calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the latest evidence on living standards in the UK and London.
Rosie Elms, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s personnel committee, said: “We know that paying a real living wage helps employers differentiate themselves in competitive markets, retain existing staff and attract new staff, and when employees thrive organisations thrive, too. The real living wage has transformed millions of people’s lives around the UK and we are delighted to be part of that movement.”
Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, added: “We are delighted that Ribble Valley Borough Council has joined the movement of more than 16,000 responsible employers across the UK, who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to ensure their staff earn enough to live on.
“The council has joined thousands of businesses and organisations across the UK, who recognise that paying the real living wage is the mark of a responsible employer and that everyone deserves a decent standard of living.”
