One of Edinburgh’s universities Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh has made the Living Wage commitment and they are now a Living Wage Employer.
The Scottish Government’s Higher and Further Education Minister, Shirley-Anne Somerville, came to the campus last week to celebrate the move during Living Wage Week.
There is a new UK rate of £8.45 while the London rate is £9.75. Employers who have already gained accreditation must pay the new rates no later than 1 May 2017.
Dee Denholm, Head of Human Resources at QMU, said: “We believe that paying at least the real Living Wage to all QMU staff is the right thing to do. Paying each member of our team fairly is at the core of our values, and the Living Wage accreditation offers formal recognition for this”.
Higher and Further Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “I’m delighted that Queen Margaret University is now accredited as a Living Wage Employer, which is a key part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to making our country a fairer place for everyone to live, work and study.
“Paying the Living Wage is an investment in people and the evidence shows it leads to increased productivity and reduced staff absence and turnover. I look forward to more universities and colleges following QMU’s lead.”
Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance which runs the accreditation initiative in Scotland said: “Congratulations to Queen Margaret University on becoming an accredited Living Wage employer”.
“With two-thirds of children in poverty in Scotland living in a household where someone works, paying the real Living Wage is more important than ever.
“Not only does paying the real Living Wage ensure that everyone takes home a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, it has benefits to businesses too. These include increased productivity, increased staff retention and lower rates of absenteeism.”
Everyone working at QMU, regardless of whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors will now receive a real Living Wage, which is significantly higher than the government minimum wage of £6.70 and the new minimum wage premium for over 25s of £7.20 per hour introduced this April.
The real Living Wage rates are calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in the UK. The real Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and re-calculated annually based on what people need to meet their basic everyday needs.
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