Christina Portrait

 

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie has urged businesses in South Lanarkshire to sign up to the Scottish Living Wage – as the number of accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland hits 900.

The Scottish Living Wage is independently calculated based on the cost of living – with the real Living Wage currently at £8.45, above the minimum wage of £7.50 for workers aged over 25.

Recent figures show that there are currently 40 accredited Living Wage employers in South Lanarkshire.

Hamilton Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP Christina McKelvie has written to employers throughout South Lanarkshire encouraging them to explore the benefits of accreditation, with research showing paying the real Living Wage leads to a fall in absenteeism and a significant impact on recruitment and staff retention. 

Commenting, Christina said:

“The real Living Wage can make a huge difference to both workers and employers.

“For business, paying the Living Wage makes sense - it’s an investment in people and all the evidence shows it leads to increased productivity and reduced staff absence and turnover.

“Around 20 per cent of Scotland’s workforce earn less than the real Living Wage. With low pay one of the main drivers of in-work poverty, it’s vital that employers who can pay the real Living Wage do so.

“I would strongly encourage all employers in South Lanarkshire to look into the real benefits of becoming an accredited Living Wage employer.”

Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance said:

“The real Living Wage is one of the most effective means we have of tackling in-work poverty, and Living Wage accreditation is the mark of a responsible employer.

With more than half of children in poverty in Scotland living in a household where someone works, paying a real Living Wage that reflects the cost of living has never been more important.

I congratulate the 40 employers in South Lanarkshire for their leadership they have shown by becoming accredited Living Wage Employers and I hope more organisations in Scotland will follow their lead by getting in touch with us”.