Moray Council in Scotland has received living wage employer accreditation as of this week.
According to the council, it has paid above the living wage rate since 2012, with a rate of £10.04 per hour being the lowest pay point on its salary scale as of April this year. Moray Council received accreditation as a formal recognition for a range of commitments, which include agreed milestones to continue to pay its staff a living wage.
The council's lowest pay point is higher than both the current living wage rate of £9.90 and the government minimum for workers aged 23 and over, £9.50 per hour.
The real living wage is calculated by the Living Wage Foundation according to the costs of living. Accredited employers pay the rate on a voluntary basis in order to recognise the value of their workers and keep pay ahead of inflation and the cost of living.
Roddy Burns, chief executive of Moray Council, said: “As one of the largest employers in the area, it’s right that we lead by example and recognise the hard work our thousands of colleagues do, day in and day out, to provide the best possible standard of service to our communities. I’m pleased to see this accreditation awarded which demonstrates our commitment to paying the living wage to our much-valued staff.”
Councillor Kathleen Robertson, leader of Moray Council, added: “Achieving accreditation is a significant milestone and we proudly join the other Scottish councils with this mark of recognition. We know times are particularly challenging for many residents, and as a living wage employer we are playing our part in supporting our employees and valuing the work they do.”
Gail Irvine, manager of Living Wage Scotland, said: “We’re delighted that Moray Council has become an accredited living wage employer. They join a growing movement of more than 2,700 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need to thrive.”
