The body behind the UK seafood industry, Seafish, has gained its accreditation as a Living Wage employer.
The organisation has committed to paying the higher minimum hourly rate of £13.45 in the UK and £14.80 in London.
The current government minimum for people over 21 is £12.71 per hour.
Seafish has an office in Edinburgh with others elsewhere in the UK and supports the sector to achieve a safe and skilled workforce, smoother and expanding seafood trade and a resilient supply chain.
Linsey Neill, Seafish’s People and Culture Director, said: “Becoming a Real Living Wage Accredited Employer reflects our commitment to doing the right thing for our people. We believe fair pay helps people feel valued, supported, and able to thrive.
“It’s part of our commitment to being an employer of choice, championing best practice, and in turn help to build a stronger, thriving industry. We are a pan-UK body and for us this accreditation reflects the fairness reflected in the approach we take to our entire staff population regardless of location.”
Graham Griffiths, Interim Director, Living Wage Foundation said he was delighted that Seafish has taken this step and joining over 16,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.
“They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more,” he added.
“These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like Seafish, believe that everyone needs to be able to live with dignity and have a decent standard of living.”
The Living Wage Foundation is the only one which is calculated independently based on the cost of living, rising annually based on living costs. Employers are then aware that they are paying a wage which meets everyday needs, not just the government minimum. More than 16,000 accredited employers have secured more than £4.1 billion in pay rises for low paid workers since 2011.
