A YEAR-LONG bid for Worcester City Council to become a Real Living Wage employer has come to an end after council chiefs gave the thumbs up to proposals.
Councillors on the Policy and Resources Committee accepted a recommendation at a meeting last Tuesday (November 3).
Guildhall staff have all received the Real Living Wage of £9.30 an hour since 2014, but the council will now also only contract services to companies who pay their staff the Real Living Wage.
The move comes after a motion was proposed to the council on October 2019 by Labour City Councillor Lynn Denham, asking the City Council seek accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation.
“I am very pleased as a result of the motion that I proposed to the City Council last October, Worcester City Council will now become an accredited Real Living Wage employer,” she said.
“By becoming a Living Wage accredited employer, the council can lead the way in boosting wages and making a real difference for people in Worcester who are struggling to make ends meet.
“During the Coronavirus pandemic, City Council staff have carried out vital work, continuing to deliver essential services and keeping our city going.
“Becoming an accredited Living Wage employer will mean everyone who works so hard to serve Worcester residents will earn a fair wage which they deserve.
“Low pay blights people’s lives, making it difficult to meet the cost of modern living, leading to fuel poverty, child poverty and health inequalities.
“Value for money for the council is not ‘simply securing the lowest price’. We can make a positive contribution to the local economy and benefit the lowest paid workers and their families.”
Research by the Living Wage Foundation suggests that becoming an accredited Living Wage employer can improve staff morale and productivity, improve employee retention, reduce rates of sickness absence and deliver higher quality candidates for vacancies.
The City Council will now apply for accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation, which requires employers to pay the current Real Living Wage rate of £9.30 an hour to all workers over the age of 18.
