NEWS – 23 June 2022
Aberdeen Performing Arts accredited as Living Wage Employer
Aberdeen Performing Arts has today been accredited as a Living Wage employer. The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at the charitable organisation receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.90 per hour, positively affecting 165 staff.
This Living Wage rate was announced on Monday 15th November 2021 as part of Living Wage Week. This rate is higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £9.50 per hour (from 1 April 2022).
In Scotland, more than 14% of all jobs pay less than the real Living Wage – around 330,000 jobs. Aberdeen Performing Arts has committed to paying the real Living Wage and delivering a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.
Aberdeen Performing Arts Chair Craig Pike said: “We are proud to be a Living Wage Accredited employer, reflecting our ongoing commitment to making our staff feel valued and recognising that our people are at the heart of our success.”
The Real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate calculated according to the costs of living. Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage on a voluntary basis, recognising the value of their workers and ensuring that a hard day’s work receives a fair day’s pay.
Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 52,000 people in Scotland and put over £310 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.
Peter Kelly, Director of The Poverty Alliance said: “We all need an income that is enough to cover our needs and protect us from poverty, and it’s only right that employers pay a wage that reflects the cost of living. Too many workers in Scotland are paid less than the real Living Wage and, at a time of rising costs, are struggling to stay afloat. The real Living Wage can offer protection from those rising costs.”
“Congratulations to Aberdeen Performing Arts on their Living Wage commitment, and I hope more organisations follow their lead by becoming Living Wage accredited.”
Gail Irvine, Living Wage Scotland Manager said: “We’re delighted that Aberdeen Performing Arts has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of over 2500 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need to thrive.
Our Living Wage employer network includes lots of smaller employers as well as larger and iconic brands like SSE, abrdn, Barrs, Mackie’s of Scotland, & D.C. Thomson. We hope to see many more employers following their example.”
