In response to Chancellor George Osborne's recent announcement that he would like to see an above-inflation rise in the National Minimum Wage (NMW), Rhys Moore Director of the Living Wage Foundation said:
"We welcome the Chancellor's comments. He is right to focus his attention on working people struggling on low pay. A strong well-enforced national minimum wage is vital for our communities and our economy.
"Any rise in the NMW is likely to be phased over time and will be dependent upon the Low Pay Commission. The current Living Wage of £7.65 for the UK and £8.80 for London is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living.
"The best employers are not waiting for government to act. They are voluntarily signing up to pay the Living Wage now. We have accredited over 500 leading employers ranging from Barclays, SSE and PwC, to Oxfam, Salford City Council and pub chain Faucet Inn who recognise that clinging to the NMW is not good for business. Customers expect better than that."
ENDS
Available for interview: Rhys Moore, Director of the Living Wage Foundation
Contact Gillian Owen Head of Media at Citizens UK for personal stories from employers and workers who are benefitting from the Living Wage: 07876246150
List of accredited employers available here: https://dev.livingwage.org.uk/employers