A record 4,000 employers in Scotland are now paying their staff at least the real Living Wage, boosting the incomes of 72,000 workers across the country.
The milestone comes as Living Wage Week begins, celebrating the difference that fair pay makes for families and communities, and encouraging more employers to join the movement.
The Scottish Government has made paying the real Living Wage a condition for receiving public grants, a move designed to ensure that taxpayer money supports fair employment and strengthens household finances.
First Minister John Swinney marked the occasion with a visit to Edinburgh’s Capital City Partnership, praising the progress made and the impact it has had.
“Ensuring people are paid fairly is crucial to keep people out of poverty,” he said.
“The real Living Wage helps to make sure that salaries keep pace with the rising cost of living, supporting a fairer, more equal society.”
He said paying the real Living Wage benefits businesses as well as workers, improving staff retention, motivation, and overall morale.
“It also helps to increase spending in local economies, in turn boosting economic growth,” he added.
“I am pleased that we now have a record 4,000 accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland, meaning we have proportionately around five times as many as the rest of the UK.
“That is very positive news, and we will continue to encourage more businesses to sign up.”
The First Minister’s visit to Capital City Partnership highlighted how local organisations are embracing fair pay as part of a wider effort to tackle inequality.
The Partnership works closely with employers and jobseekers across Edinburgh, helping people into work and promoting fair employment as a route out of poverty.
Rona Hunter, Chief Executive of Capital City Partnership, said fair pay is at the heart of their work.
“Capital City Partnership is committed to the Living Wage as part of our remit to tackle poverty and inequality and raise household incomes,” she said.
“This commitment is also based on our work supporting employers, where we see how accreditation hugely helps them to attract and retain staff and improves productivity and staff well-being.
“The benefits are real and measurable, and it supports people and business.”
As Living Wage Week gets underway, the message is clear: fair pay is not just good for workers, it is good for Scotland.
