Today, EDF Energy is announcing its official accreditation as a Living Wage employer. This means that all of EDF Energy's 14,000 employees have been shown to be paid at least or above the Living Wage, which is currently £8.25 an hour or £9.40 in London.
Many of EDF Energy's suppliers already pay the Living Wage and EDF Energy will work to encourage all of its suppliers to give the Living Wage to those that regularly work for the company.
EDF Energy's recognised trade union partners - Unite, Unison, GMB and Prospect - are strongly supportive and this has helped EDF Energy become an accredited Living Wage employer.
There are now over 2,300 accredited Living Wage employers. The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually by the Living Wage Foundation.
EDF Energy Chief Executive Officer Vincent de Rivaz CBE said:
"I am pleased to announce EDF Energy's accreditation as a Living Wage employer.
"Gaining accreditation is part of our approach to responsible business. It means that we will continue to pay a Living Wage to EDF Energy employees and work with our supply chain partners so that everybody who regularly contributes to EDF Energy can be paid a Living Wage.
"Paying a Living Wage is just one way EDF Energy invests in its people, the communities we serve, and the UK economy - whether that's equipping apprentices with the skills and confidence required to join our industry's next generation or investing in staff training and development."
Director of the Living Wage Foundation, Katherine Chapman commented:
"We are delighted to welcome EDF Energy, one of the UK's largest suppliers of electricity, to the Living Wage movement as an accredited Living Wage employer; joining over 2,300 responsible employers committed to ending in-work poverty. The voluntary Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living; going above the statutory minimums and rewarding a hard day's work with a fair day's pay.
"With the government's minimum wage premium rate for over 25's coming into effect on 01 April, EDF Energy's decision shows that leading businesses want to go further than the minimum on pay. The Living Wage is a mark of responsible businesses, and we hope that EDF Energy's leadership will encourage others in the sector to consider how they can implement the Living Wage across their organisations."
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis commented:
"Today's announcement is good news for all those contractors and suppliers who will benefit from being paid the Living Wage.
"It shows that companies can pay decent wages and remain competitive and puts down a marker for other firms in the energy sector to meet the same pay standards."
GMB National Officer for Energy and Utilities, Eamon O'Hearn Large commented:
"GMB congratulates EDF Energy on securing accreditation as a Living Wage employer.
"GMB is proud to have previously jointly negotiated that all directly employed staff are paid the Living Wage. We are sure this has contributed to the outcome that this is now being rolled out to indirectly employed workers and will have a hugely positive impact on them also."