The ‘Real’ Living Wage is set to rise
The ‘Real’ Living Wage will increase by 2.8% this week, meaning those working for an employer signed up to the voluntary scheme will earn £9 an hour.
Earlier this year, Portsmouth City Council’s employment committee unanimously voted to opt in to the project.
This saw council workers such as cleaners, care home workers and domestic assistants have their pay increase to £8.75 an hour.
Other employers include Ikea, Nationwide, Aviva, Burberry and many other independent organisations.
The ‘Real’ Living Wage was launched in 2011 by the Living Wage Foundation, in a bid protect the lowest paid residents of London from being exploited.
This is not to be confused with the National Living Wage, which is a legally binding, statutory rate for workers in the UK aged over 25 and is currently set at £7.83.
However, the National Minimum Wage is currently set at £7.38, and is the rate of pay for workers under the age of 25.
Since 2011, the ‘Real’ Living Wage has increased by £1.80, whereas the national minimum wage has changed by £1.46 outside of London.
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