Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Neil backs living wage for workers
MP Gray hosts scheme event
Neil Gray hosted a parliamentary reception to promote the recent living wage week and celebrate employers signing up to the scheme.
The Airdrie & Shotts MP, who is the SNP’s work and pensions spokesperson at Westminster, said: “It was great to hear stories about the difference it’s made to employees, and from employers on the boost to productivity and reduction in staff turnover.”
The Poverty Alliance in Scotland and the Living Wage Foundation in England and Wales set the figure, newly increased last week to £ 9 per hour; there are 24 living wage employers in Monklands.
Mr Gray added: “Scotland has the lowest rate of employees being paid below the living wage, but we need to keep up the hard work to see more employers being accredited.
“A worker under 25 being paid the minimum wage of £7.38 per hour could see a pay increase of around £50 per week if their employer pays the real living wage – think of the difference that could make to someone’s life.”
Constituency colleague Alex Neil MSP is also encouraging further local businesses to sign up to the Scottish living wage, independently calculated based on the cost of living.
He said: “It can make a huge difference to both workers and employers and I’d strongly encourage all employers in Airdrie & Shotts to look into the real benefits of becoming an accredited living wage employer.
“For business, paying the living wage makes sense – it’s an investment in people and all the evidence shows it leads to increased productivity and reduced staff absence and turnover.
“With low pay one of the main drivers of in-work poverty, it is vital that employers who can pay the real living wage do so.”