Real Living Wage to be increased

The announcement comes as new research by the Living Wage Foundation has demonstrated the scale of low pay during the pandemic, with 5.5 million jobs still paying less than the real Living Wage. Northern Ireland had the highest proportion of jobs paying below the Living Wage (25.3%) and Scotland the lowest (15.2%).

Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the announcement. General secretary, Paddy Lillis, said: “If ever there was a year that low-paid workers deserved a pay rise it’s 2020. Many of the key workers who have helped us through this appalling pandemic earn less than the real Living Wage. While claps on a Thursday were welcomed and appreciated, they don’t pay the rent or put food on the table. So we welcome the new Living Wage rates, which are based on an individual’s cost of living and clearly show that the government’s so-called ‘National Living Wage’ is nothing of the sort.

“Usdaw has consistently campaigned for at least £10 per hour for all workers over 16, which would abolish rip-off youth rates. If you’re old enough to do the job, you’re old enough to be paid the rate for the job. As a result of our efforts, youth rates no longer exist in companies like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Co-op and Morrisons.”

He added: “We are expecting the Low Pay Commission to announce their recommendations for next year’s minimum wage rates anytime soon and we hope they will follow the example of the Living wage Foundation. Usdaw is calling for a rise in line with the commitment to two-thirds of median earnings, which should be seen as the minimum required to recognise the outstanding contributions of our key workers.

“It is now time for the government to recognise that too many workers have been undervalued for too long. We need a new deal for the workers.”