[UK] London Living Wage jumps to £13.15 in biggest ever increase

In the UK, over 130,000 of London’s workers will receive a 10 per cent pay boost, as the London Living Wage rises from £11.95 to £13.15, The Standard reports.

The Londoners who will benefit from the hike are employed by the 3,500 organisations in the capital that have signed up to the Living Wage Foundation (LWF).

The foundation sets a new ‘real living wage’ every year, which is higher than the Government’s national living wage (formerly called the minimum wage).

According to the LWF, its ‘real living wage’ is a more accurate calculation of rising living costs and it sets a special rate for London workers to reflect the capital’s higher prices. Outside London, the rate is increasing from £10.90 to £12.

The Government’s national living wage applies nationwide to those aged 23 and over. The current rate is £10.42 per hour.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is chair of the Making London a Living Wage City project. He said this year’s 10 per cent increase is “the biggest jump ever” for the LWF's London Living Wage.

Mr Khan said, “It’s vital that we also see an increase in Government support, especially for small and micro businesses, for whom paying a London Living Wage can be a challenge.”

Employers signed up to the LWF reportedly include Aviva, Burberry and IKEA.

The foundation said there are 3.5 million workers in the UK who earn less than their 'real living wage' and 575,000 in London. Recent LWF research shows that, despite inflation easing, 60 per cent of these low-paid workers say they have used a food bank in the past year while 39 per cent regularly skip meals for financial reasons.

Katherine Chapman - LWF director - said, “During these tough economic times, it is heartening that record numbers of employers are signing up to join the Living Wage movement, protecting everyone who works for them - including cleaners - from rising prices and seeing the benefits of a more motivated and engaged workforce.

“The real living wage has never been more important, and we encourage those who can to join the 14,000 Living Wage employers across the UK who are committed to always pay a wage that covers the cost of living.”

The foundation said that a full-time worker earning the LWF's new London Living Wage would earn £5,323.50 more per year than someone on the current national living wage and £2,145.00 more than their current pay.

Source: The Standard

(Quotes via original reporting)

In the UK, over 130,000 of London’s workers will receive a 10 per cent pay boost, as the London Living Wage rises from £11.95 to £13.15, The Standard reports.

The Londoners who will benefit from the hike are employed by the 3,500 organisations in the capital that have signed up to the Living Wage Foundation (LWF).

The foundation sets a new ‘real living wage’ every year, which is higher than the Government’s national living wage (formerly called the minimum wage).

According to the LWF, its ‘real living wage’ is a more accurate calculation of rising living costs and it sets a special rate for London workers to reflect the capital’s higher prices. Outside London, the rate is increasing from £10.90 to £12.

The Government’s national living wage applies nationwide to those aged 23 and over. The current rate is £10.42 per hour.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is chair of the Making London a Living Wage City project. He said this year’s 10 per cent increase is “the biggest jump ever” for the LWF's London Living Wage.

Mr Khan said, “It’s vital that we also see an increase in Government support, especially for small and micro businesses, for whom paying a London Living Wage can be a challenge.”

Employers signed up to the LWF reportedly include Aviva, Burberry and IKEA.

The foundation said there are 3.5 million workers in the UK who earn less than their 'real living wage' and 575,000 in London. Recent LWF research shows that, despite inflation easing, 60 per cent of these low-paid workers say they have used a food bank in the past year while 39 per cent regularly skip meals for financial reasons.

Katherine Chapman - LWF director - said, “During these tough economic times, it is heartening that record numbers of employers are signing up to join the Living Wage movement, protecting everyone who works for them - including cleaners - from rising prices and seeing the benefits of a more motivated and engaged workforce.

“The real living wage has never been more important, and we encourage those who can to join the 14,000 Living Wage employers across the UK who are committed to always pay a wage that covers the cost of living.”

The foundation said that a full-time worker earning the LWF's new London Living Wage would earn £5,323.50 more per year than someone on the current national living wage and £2,145.00 more than their current pay.

Source: The Standard

(Quotes via original reporting)