The Living Wage Foundation and Cynnal Cymru are delighted to announce that Capital Law has today been accredited as a Living Wage employer. This means Wales has reached 100 accredited Living Wage employers.
Since November 2016, Cynnal Cymru - Sustain Wales have been the official accreditation body for the Living Wage in Wales, and the number of organisations paying the Living Wage has increased by a fifth.
The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Capital Law, regardless of whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors, receive a minimum hourly wage of £8.45, and £9.75 in London. Both these rates are significantly higher than the statutory minimum for over 25s of £7.50 per hour introduced in April 2017.
The real Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently, updated annually and calculated according to the real cost of living.
Paul Clayton, HR Director at Capital Law said:
"We are thrilled to be announced as the 100th accredited Living Wage employer in Wales. We are very passionate about being a responsible employer and have been working with our contractors to ensure everyone who works for Capital Law is being paid at least the Living Wage. We look forward to working with Cynnal Cymru - Sustain Wales to increase the number of Living Wage employers in Wales."
Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party political support.
Economy Secretary, Ken Skates said:
"This is welcome news and another step towards the real Living Wage becoming commonplace in Wales. What we all want to see is a fairly rewarded, productive workforce driving a thriving Welsh Economy and I'm delighted to see Capital Law join the growing list of companies recognising the value of the real Living Wage and implementing it voluntarily".
Leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Huw Thomas said:
"It is wonderful to see Capital Law become Wales' 100th Living Wage Employer and I am pleased to offer my congratulations to them on this fantastic achievement. Five years ago, Cardiff Council voted to become a Living Wage Employer and it was the proudest vote I've cast so far. The Council is proud to have paid the Living Wage to all its employees since 2012, and as I indicated during the recent launch of Capital Ambition, where the Council has led, I expect others to follow.
I am therefore delighted to see Capital Law join the growing number of employers who are voluntarily signing up to become Living Wage Employers. Cardiff Council is encouraging employers to sign up to pay the Living Wage to help Cardiff gain recognition as a Living Wage City and we are running a scheme offering financial support to organisations who become accredited Living Wage Employers over the next 12 months."
Director of Cynnal Cymru - Sustain Wales, Mari Arthur said:
"We are delighted to welcome Capital Law to the Living Wage movement as the 100th accredited Living Wage employer in Wales. The best employers are voluntarily signing up to pay the Living Wage now. The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day's work with a fair day's pay.
The Living Wage Foundation have accredited more than 3,300 leading employers, including Capital Law, ranging from independent printers, bookshops, breweries, to well-known companies such as Nationwide, Aviva and SSE. These businesses recognise that clinging to the National Living Wage is not good business. Customers expect better than that."