Living Wage is the way to go
Paisley MSP George Adam has urged businesses in Paisley to sign up to the Scottish Living Wage as part of Living Wage Week.
The Scottish Living Wage is independently calculated based on the cost of living and is rising by 25p to £9, well above the minimum wage of £7.83 for workers aged over 25.
There are currently 42 accredited Living Wage employers in Renfrewshire.
The SNP man is urging companies in the Paisley area to explore the benefits of Living Wage accreditation, with research showing paying this level of wages leads to a fall in absenteeism and has a significant impact on recruitment and staff retention.
Mr Adam said: “The real Living Wage can make a huge difference to both workers and employers.
“For business, paying this rate makes sense – it’s an investment in people and all the evidence shows it leads to increased productivity and reduced staff absence and turnover.
“It is completely unacceptable that the UK Government did not use last week’s Budget to raise the National Living Wage, extend it to all workers and end discrimination of young people.
“With low pay one of the main drivers of in-work poverty, it is vital that employers who can pay this fair rate to workers do so.
“I would strongly encourage all employers in Paisley to look into the real benefits of becoming an accredited Living Wage employer.”