Aberdeenshire Council has received living wage accreditation as part of its commitment to offer its 16,000 employees protection from rising costs.
As a result of the accreditation, everyone working at the local authority will receive a minimum hourly wage of £10.90 per hour. This rate is higher than the government minimum for those aged 23 and above, which currently stands at £10.42 per hour.
The real living wage rate is calculated according to the costs of living and is voluntarily paid by employers in order to recognise the value of their workers and ensure that they receive fair pay.
The council made the decision to pay employees this rate as a minimum because nearly one in 10 jobs across Scotland pays less than the real living wage, equating to 221,000 jobs. It also wants to encourage its suppliers, partners and local businesses to pay the real living wage to support low-paid workers.
Councillor Gillian Owen, leader of Aberdeenshire Council, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to be accredited as a Living Wage employer. As a key employer in Aberdeenshire, this commitment will make a difference for many across the area, and we hope our accreditation encourages other local businesses and organisations who don’t yet do so to offer a real living wage.”
Jim Savege, chief executive at Aberdeenshire Council, added: “The last few years have been particularly challenging for many, which makes it more important than ever to offer a real living wage to our employees. Our accreditation is the result of dedicated efforts by our elected members and employees alike and it has been a real team effort to reach this stage.”
