Municipal bus firm Lothian Buses has received living wage employer accreditation.
The commitment means that all Lothian Buses employees will receive a minimum hourly wage of £12 per hour. This rate is higher than the government minimum for over 21s, which currently stands at £11.44 per hour.
The organisation, owned by the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian councils, has over 2,500 staff.
The accreditation strengthen’s the City of Edinburgh’s ambition to become a living wage city and to tackle in-work poverty in the city.
The real living wage is the only UK wage rate calculated according to the costs of living. Employers choose to pay the real living wage on a voluntary basis.
Sarah Boyd, managing director at Lothian, said: “Lothian strives to be a caring, reputable and trustworthy organisation that current and prospective employees actively choose to work for.
“Our people are the heart of our business, and as an accredited living wage employer, we are committed to paying our people a wage that makes them feel valued and appreciated, as well as ensuring it accurately reflects the real cost of living.”
Rachel Morrison-McCormick, Living Wage Scotland projects coordinator, said: “We’re delighted that Lothian Buses has become an accredited living wage employer. As one of the largest employers in the region, its commitment to paying a real living wage sets an example, and will ensure that workers and their families can earn what they need to live on.
“Lothian Buses join a growing movement of over 3,600 accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland that includes well-known organisations such as Abrdn, Edinburgh Napier University and NHS Lothian, and we hope many more follow their example.”