Thousands of workers in Wales to get 10% pay increase as Living Wage rate rises

Thousands of workers in Wales will receive a cost-of-living pay boost as the new Living Wage rate rises to £12 an hour across the UK outside of London.

550 Welsh employers have committed to paying all their staff a real Living Wage, which has increased by £1.10.

The real Living Wage rates remain the only wage rates independently calculated based on what people need to live on. This year the rate increased by 10.1% in the UK, reflecting persistently high costs and levels of financial hardship for low paid workers.

Recent research by the Living Wage Foundation shows that despite inflation easing, the cost-of-living crisis is far from over for Britain’s 3.5m low paid workers, with 60% having used a food bank in the past year and 39% regularly skipping meals for financial reasons.

Living Wage

Unlike the Government minimum wage (known as the ‘National Living Wage’ for over 23s which is currently £10.42 per hour), the real Living Wage is the only wage rate independently calculated based on rising living costs and applies to everyone over 18.

A full-time worker earning the new, real Living Wage would earn £3,081 a year more than a worker earning the current government minimum (NLW), and £2,145 more than their current pay.

New research from Cardiff Business School shows that Living Wage workers in Wales have benefitted from more than £105m in extra wages since the campaign began in 2011.

Research published recently by the Living Wage Foundation found that despite easing inflation, the cost-of-living crisis is far from over for low paid workers, with 50% worse off than a year ago. 43% of low paid workers reported regularly using a foodbank (at least once per month) and 39% reported falling behind on household bills.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “I welcome today’s announcement of a rise in the Real Living Wage from £10.90 to £12 per hour. This increase will make a real difference to the lives of thousands of workers who work for Real Living Wage employers in Wales.

“I pay tribute to those employers who have adopted the Real Living Wage and recognised its benefits to them as employers, to those they employ, and to our communities.  We will continue to work with employers, trade unions and others in the living wage movement to promote the benefits of the Real Living Wage.

Beccy Legge, Head of People at Tiny Rebel said: “From our awesome kitchen and bar teams, right the way through to our unbeatable brewery and office gang, Tiny Rebel is proud to be a brand that’s fully committed to putting the health and wellbeing of its people first.”

Clare Sain-Ley-Berry, Director of Cynnal Cymru, the Living Wage Foundation accreditation partner for Wales said: “It’s great to hear that so many workers will be receiving a pay rise to reflect the rising cost of living as a result of the growing Wales-wide network of real Living Wage employers.

“As the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living, times like these are exactly why the real Living Wage exists. Employers who have taken the step to become accredited real Living Wage employers should feel proud that their efforts are helping sustain families through this cost-of-living crisis and saving many of their workers from intense financial worry.”