Advertisement
Employment

Record increase in real living wage will see 400,000 workers get pay rise

But some have said the £1 an hour raise may not be enough for some employees in the current cost of living crisis

Thousands of low-paid workers across the UK are getting an inflation-matching pay rise as the Living Wage Foundation (LWF) announces its new rates.

An extra £1 an hour will be added to the pay packets of workers who earn the real living wage, or an extra 90p for those in London. The rise is mandatory for the 11,000 employers who are signed up to the scheme.

The real living wage is different to the national living wage and national minimum wage, both of which are set by the government. The LWF sets the rate of pay based on up-to-date living costs, taking into account the cost of bills, the weekly shop and other measures, and making sure workers are paid enough to live on. 

The 10.1 pay rise is the biggest ever jump calculated by the foundation in its 11-year history, and takes into account inflation hitting 10.1 per cent in July, then 9.9 in August. 

Real living wage employers include Ikea, Nationwide, food delivery app Getir, Aviva, Nestlé, Everton Football Club and at least 60 councils across the UK.

The rate, which will now be £10.90 an hour across the UK and £11.95 an hour in London, was brought forward two months to account for the cost of living crisis.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Gavin Ryan has worked at Anchor Removals for 10 years, and said earning the living wage helped him move out of his mum’s house and into a home with his partner.

He described earning the rate as a “life saver” during the pandemic. “My partner Nic lost her job as a travel consultant and went to work for a supermarket,” he said. “Her hours and pay were not great, but because I was earning the living wage with guaranteed hours, I knew I could support her.”

For his boss, Chris Smallwood, it’s about acknowledging “the importance of a wage that values people”.

“I wanted to break this mentality that is endemic in my industry that it has to be tough. When I get up in the morning, I can look myself in the mirror knowing all the good things around me are not at the expense of other people, because I’ve paid them well”, he added.

The new rates are now worth almost £3,000 more a year than the government’s national minimum wage, and almost £5,000 more in London. The hourly minimum wage for people aged 23 or above, which the government rebranded as the “living wage”, is £9.50. People aged 21 and 22 must receive at least £9.18 an hour, 18- to 20-year-olds at least £6.83, and 16- and 17-year-olds £4.81.

Charles Cotton, a senior adviser at the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, said the new rates “may not be enough to improve financial conditions for some of the lowest paid employees” during the cost of living crisis.

Advertisement

He said: “Employers should also consider other ways they can support employees’ financial wellbeing. As well as offering enough hours for staff to have a decent standard of living, organisations should review aspects of employment such as flexible working, career progression opportunities, and financial wellbeing benefits, for example occupational sick pay or hardship loans.”

He also questioned whether businesses would be able to afford to pay the new rates, as they too are suffering from significant cost increases including for energy.

“The most sustainable way for employers to pay more is through improved productivity”, he advised, adding: “This doesn’t mean forcing staff to work harder, but smarter. Employers should review how jobs, tasks and workplaces are designed to see where improvements can be made.”

Your support changes lives. Find out how you can help us help more people by signing up for a subscription

Around 7 per cent of all UK workers were paid at or below the minimum wage in April 2020, the Low Pay Commission has estimated. 

“Today’s new rates will provide hundreds of thousands of workers and their families with greater security and stability during these incredibly difficult times,” said Katherine Chapman, LWF director.

Advertisement

“We are facing unprecedented challenges with the cost-of-living crisis, but businesses continue to step up and support workers by signing up to the Living Wage in record numbers. We know that the Living Wage is good for employers as well as workers, that’s why the real living wage must continue to be at the heart of solutions to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.”

Over half the people earning below the real living wage had to use a food bank in the past year according to the foundation’s research. 

To receive accreditation from the LWF, employers must make sure all staff are paid the rate as a minimum, including contractors such as cleaning or catering staff.

Get the latest news and insight into how the Big Issue magazine is made by signing up for the Inside Big Issue newsletter

Advertisement

Change a vendor's life this Christmas

This Christmas, 3.8 million people across the UK will be facing extreme poverty. Thousands of those struggling will turn to selling the Big Issue as a vital source of income - they need your support to earn and lift themselves out of poverty.

Recommended for you

Read All
Unemployment has risen while pay growth slows as experts warn of ‘cooling’ jobs market
Stock photo of UK bank notes and coins
Employment

Unemployment has risen while pay growth slows as experts warn of ‘cooling’ jobs market

Millions of lost jobs or a four-day working week? The impact of AI on the job market is complicated
Artificial Intelligence

Millions of lost jobs or a four-day working week? The impact of AI on the job market is complicated

Disabled people losing jobs and 'falling out of work' due to months-long waits for DWP support
disabled person working
Disability rights

Disabled people losing jobs and 'falling out of work' due to months-long waits for DWP support

Pay boost for millions as Labour raises minimum wage to £12.21 an hour – but is it enough?
Minimum wage

Pay boost for millions as Labour raises minimum wage to £12.21 an hour – but is it enough?

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue