Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) has become a Living Wage Employer. The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at FACT receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.50 in the UK or £10.85 in London. Both rates are significantly higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £8.91 per hour.
In Scotland, more than 15% of all jobs pay less than the real Living Wage – around 350,000 jobs.
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 45,000 people in Scotland and put over £240 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.
Debbie Herron, Development Manager for FACT, said: “FACT’s aim is to create a better place to live, work and visit. By making the commitment to our staff to pay the real Living Wage, we are actively delivering this vision. The timing of this achievement now is particularly important as this week is Challenge Poverty Week.”
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager said: “We’re delighted that Forres Area Community Trust has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of over 1900 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need to thrive.
