London Mayor Boris Johnson (pictured) has announced an increase in the London living wage from £8.55 to £8.80.
More than 400 employers will celebrate their commitment to the living wage throughout Living Wage Week, between 4 and 8 November.
Organisations, such as the National Portrait Gallery, Oxfam and Pearson, are among the new employers committed to paying the living wage.
Events taking place to celebrate Living Wage Week, include:
- Pricewaterhouse Coopers hosting the More London event to explore becoming a living wage zone.
- Manchester College hosting a celebration of the living wage in the north west.
- The Trade Unions Congress hosting a Northern Living Wage Summit.
- A Newcastle University Research lecture on living wage in the UK.
- A Norwich City Council public lecture on living standards.
Johnson has also challenged more employers to get involved following a 174% increase in the number of accredited employers paying the living wage, from 78 to 214.
Johnson said: “More and more London [employers] are recognising the benefits of fair remuneration for all of their workforce.
“It is extremely heartening to see major new organisations signed up this year, but we need more converts. I hope we can spur on even more organisations to do the right thing.”
Rhys Moore, director of the Living Wage Foundation, added: ”Employers that choose to pay the living wage are going that bit further and helping their workforce in challenging times.”
