Almost 500,000 workers are in line for a salary increase following the announcement of a raise in the Real Living Wage. The Real Living Wage, applicable to employees over 18 whose employer is affiliated with the Living Wage Foundation, is a voluntary wage aimed at covering essential living expenses like food, clothing, and bills.
The new hourly rates will see an increase of 85p to £13.45 per hour, a 6.7% rise, and a 95p increase to £14.80 per hour in London, a 6.9% uptick, surpassing the statutory minimum wage. The Real Living Wage pertains to all workers over 18 working for a Real Living Wage employer, which now exceeds 16,000 in number.
This year’s elevation implies that a full-time worker earning the Real Living Wage will pocket £2,418 more annually than someone on the minimum wage, and £5,050 more in London, as per the Living Wage Foundation’s calculations.
Katherine Chapman, the executive director of the Living Wage Foundation, emphasized the importance of a wage that meets essential needs, highlighting the real living wage as the only UK wage rate calculated independently based on essential living costs. She noted that the new rates will significantly benefit workers and their families, aiding them in coping with various expenses and enhancing their stability.
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea commended the wage increase as a crucial measure to prevent worker poverty. She stressed the responsibility of fair employers to ensure low-paid staff benefit from the rise and called on the government to guarantee decent pay for public service workers to avoid financial struggles.
McAnea highlighted concerns about NHS staff falling further behind the real living wage rate and urged ministers to address the issue promptly by collaborating with unions to rectify the situation.
