The Living Wage Foundation has announced a 65p increase to the voluntary Real Living Wage, raising the rate to £14.10 per hour across the UK and to £15.45 in London. This change comes as the campaign marks its 25th anniversary, a period during which almost £5 billion in pay rises have been granted to low-paid workers, including nearly £700 million in the past year alone.
Nearly half a million workers employed by almost 17,000 organisations are set to benefit from the rise. A full-time worker on the new Real Living Wage will earn over £1,250 more this year compared with the previous rate, and will earn over £2,700 more annually than a worker on the national minimum wage of £12.71 for those aged 21 and over.
The expansion of the scheme continues, with more than 2,000 new employers joining over the past year, including Uniqlo, the Department for Business and Trade and Coventry Building Society. Despite these gains, millions of workers still face in-work poverty, underscoring the ongoing need for broader action on low pay.
Despite these gains, millions of workers still face in-work poverty, underscoring the ongoing need for broader action on low pay.