Scotland is once again proving its commitment to fair pay, with the highest proportion of Real Living Wage employees and employers in the UK.
As Living Wage Week kicks off, First Minister John Swinney marked the occasion with a visit to the Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh, celebrating Scotland’s leadership on Real Living Wage standards.
The Real Living Wage, recently raised to £12.60 per hour, is calculated by the independent Living Wage Foundation and is based on the actual cost of living, bringing a welcome pay rise for over 68,000 workers in Scotland.
With 89.9% of adult employees in Scotland earning at least the Real Living Wage, the nation surpasses the rest of the UK, where 87.1% of workers in Wales, 87% in England, and 84.4% in Northern Ireland receive this rate.
Scotland is also home to five times as many accredited Living Wage employers per capita than the UK average, reflecting a robust culture of fair wages across sectors.
The SNP Scottish Government, a Real Living Wage employer since 2015, has set the tone for this widespread adoption, mandating that all organisations receiving public funding in Scotland meet the Real Living Wage standard.
Highlighting the success, SNP MSP Michelle Thomson praised the increase, noting that the Real Living Wage now provides even stronger support for employees working for accredited employers across Scotland.
For Thomson, Scotland’s Real Living Wage success is due to SNP policies prioritising worker welfare, putting fair pay front and centre.
“With this year’s raise to £12.60 an hour, we’re seeing tangible support for the over 68,000 Scottish employees who work for Real Living Wage accredited employers,” Thomson said, underscoring the significance of Living Wage Week.
Scotland’s record on the Real Living Wage demonstrates the positive impact of government-led initiatives that back both workers and businesses.
Calling for broader adoption of similar policies across the UK, Thomson urged the UK Government to follow Scotland’s lead by enforcing the Real Living Wage for all organisations benefiting from public funding.
As the week unfolds, Living Wage Week stands as a reminder of Scotland’s commitment to fair wages and workplace respect, ensuring that employees receive pay aligned with the cost of living.
By putting fair pay at the heart of its agenda, Scotland is setting a standard for the rest of the UK to follow, proving that fair wages are not only possible but essential in today’s economy.
