Living wage ‘key to reducing poverty’

The Poverty Alliance promotes the real living wage in Scotland and believes it is the only means by which to lift low-wage workers out of poverty.

The country has been quick to adopt the higher wage, but director Peter Kelly believes there is still a long way to go.

Three-quarters of respondents to the study said more employers paying a real living wage of £8.45 an hour would raise living standards.

In addition, eight out of 10 said being paid a real living wage would make them feel more valued at work, while 74% said they would be more committed to a job and 66% said they would be more productive at work.

Mr Kelly said: “We know from other surveys that increasing pay levels from the national minimum wage to a real living wage – a pay rise of up to £2,000 a year for full-time workers – brings huge benefits to employees and employers in terms of increased retention and better staff morale.

“Since we started the living wage accreditation programme in Scotland three years ago, we have signed up more than 780 employers.

“It is a voluntary programme and a simple process which we would urge employers of all size to consider.

“There is a long way to go to address in-work poverty for the estimated 467,000 low-paid people in our country.”