Living Wage Foundation celebrates its 3000th Living Wage employer with Britain's oldest professional dance company, Rambert, joining the growing movement of responsible businesses.
The commitment to paying the real Living Wage will see everyone working at Rambert, regardless of whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors, receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.75 in London. This is significantly higher than the government minimum wage of £7.20 for 25 year olds and £6.95 for 21 year olds.
The Living Wage Foundation hits a monumental milestone after year of significant growth. The number of accredited Living Wage employers has doubled since the Government's higher minimum wage, the 'National Living Wage', was announced. At least 150,000 workers have had a pay rise from the 3000 accredited Living Wage employers.
Rambert's accreditation comes as part of an engagement from the South Bank Employers Group who are highlighting the benefits of the real Living Wage for the South Bank's communities and businesses.
Only the real Living Wage is independently-calculated based on what employees and their families need to live. The rate is calculated annually based on the best available evidence on living standards in the UK and London. Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "I am delighted that 3,000 businesses have now signed up to the Living Wage. Here in London, we are leading the way in paying a fairer wage, with well over a third of all accredited businesses based in the capital.
"Companies such as Rambert recognise the clear benefits of paying all of their staff a wage they can afford to live on. As well as helping to create a fairer and more equal society, the Living Wage boosts productivity and reduces absenteeism and sick leave, as well as making it easier to recruit and retain staff.
"I am determined to encourage more London businesses to join the scheme so that hard-working Londoners, who keep this city going, are rewarded for their integral role in the capital's ongoing economic success."
Tigho Ayovuare, General Manager of Rambert, said: "Rambert makes world-class dance in the centre of London, and takes that work to audiences around the UK and internationally. Our pursuit of the highest possible standards needs to include a commitment to fair pay. Becoming a Living Wage employer ensures that everyone who contributes to our work will, like our dancers and musicians, be paid at a level that enables them to live in the city where we're based."
Living Wage Foundation Director, Katherine Chapman said:
"Reaching 3000 employers is a historic milestone for the Living Wage campaign - a third of the FTSE 100, household names like IKEA, Aviva and Google as well as thousands of small employers are now signed up to show their commitment to a fair day's pay for a fair's days' work. But with 22% of workers still earning less than the real Living Wage and the cost of living set to rise, we encourage employers who can afford it to join the growing network of leading Living Wage employers"
We are proud and thrilled to welcome Rambert to the Living Wage movement as the 3000th accredited employer - the arts can be a tricky environment to go beyond the minimum wage and Rambert have set the bar for others in the creative arts to follow suit."
Further information from: Monica.Brimacombe@citizensuk.org or Shazia.Ejaz@citizensuk.org
or phone the Living Wage Foundation press office on 0207 043 9886 or 07811 138185
Notes to Editors
About the Living Wage Foundation
The Living Wage Foundation is the organisation at the heart of the independent movement of businesses, organisations and people who believe that a fair day's work deserves a fair day's pay. We recognise and celebrate the leadership shown by the 3,000 Living Wage employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to ensure their staff earn a real Living Wage that meets the cost of living. We are an initiative of Citizens UK.
Only the real Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living in London and the UK. It takes into account a basket of goods and services, which includes food, transport, housing and childcare. It is based on what members of the public think makes up an acceptable standard of living.
Employers choose to pay this wage on a voluntary basis. The real Living Wage applies to all workers over 18 - in recognition that young people face the same living costs as everyone else. It enjoys cross party support.
The London Living Wage is currently £9.75 per hour. This figure covers all boroughs in Greater London. The UK Living Wage for outside of London is currently £8.45 per hour. These figures are calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in London and the UK.
About Rambert
Contact: Tim.Wood@rambert.org.uk
Rambert
Rambert is Britain's national dance company. It produces new and historic dance works for audiences throughout the UK and around the world, performed by world-class dancers and accompanied by live music.
Rambert has been making dance in London for 90 years. Its new home on the South Bank, which opened in 2013, is a centre for creativity, talent development and community engagement. Rambert works in partnership with local authorities, schools, hospitals and health care providers, social enterprises, charities, businesses and arts organisations to extend its reach to people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances, giving tens of thousands of people each year opportunities to watch, take part and learn through dance.
About the Living Wage
How is the real Living Wage different from the government's National Living Wage?
In April 2016 the government introduced a higher minimum wage rate for all staff over 25 years of age inspired by the Living Wage campaign - even calling it the 'National Living Wage'.
The government's 'National Living Wage' is not calculated according to what employees and their families need to live. It is based on a target to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020. Under current forecasts this means a rise to less than £9 per hour by 2020.
That's why the Living Wage movement campaigns for all employers that can afford to do so to ensure their employees earn a wage that meets the cost of living, not just the government minimum.
The National Minimum Wage
(including the 'national living wage')
The Living Wage
· The legal minimum an employee can earn in an hour. Employers break the law if they fail to pay this rate
· A voluntary rate that employers commit to pay in order to go above and beyond. The Living Wage Employer Mark is a sign of best practice
· The 'national living wage' rate is set at £7.20 an hour
· The current UK Living Wage is £8.45 an hour.
The current London Living Wage is £9.75 an hour
· This will increase each year, with the aim of reaching 60% of the median wage across the country by 2020 (this would mean around £9 an hour but the Low Pay Commission will consider what the market can bear)
· This will increase in line with the cost of living with increases announced in Living Wage Week every year
· Different rates apply depending on the age of the employee. The 'national living wage' is for over 25s only
· The Living Wage is the same for all employees over the age of 18
· Set by the Low Pay Commission
· Set by the Living Wage Foundation
· Based on an estimation of what the market can bear
· Based on the cost of living
· The rates are the same right across the UK
· There is a separate rate for London to reflect the higher cost of living in the Capital