VASLan has today been accredited as a Living Wage employer. The Living Wage commitment re-affirms that everyone working at VASLan will continue to receive a minimum hourly wage of £10.90 per hour. This Living Wage rate was announced on Thursday, 22nd September 2022. This rate is significantly 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. Despite this, VASLan is committed to paying the real Living Wage and delivering a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.

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. 

Steven Sweeney, Chief Executive Officer of VASLan said: “We are delighted to announce that we have finally become a Living Wage accredited employer. Fair work practices and valuing our VASLan teammates are part of our culture, which we plan to continue to build upon. We also want to use this as a platform to better support South Lanarkshire’s third sector, with some members reporting challenges when trying to pay the Living Wage.”

“According to the Living Wage Foundation, 12.5% of voluntary organisations pay below the Living Wage. We welcome the Scottish Government's real Living Wage requirement from July 2023 for businesses, enterprise agencies and public bodies.”

“For this to be fully realised for South Lanarkshire’s third sector, for Fair Work First criteria to be implemented, long-standing items like a lack of core investment, the absence of annual uplifts, short-term funding arrangements and delays in decision making need to be rectified.”

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 VASLan 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 VASLan 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.”

What about the Government’s national living wage?

In July 2015 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the UK Government would introduce a compulsory ‘national living wage’. It was introduced in April 2016, originally applying for all workers over the age of 25, and, as of April 2021, is currently £9.50 (from 1 April 2022) an hour and applies for workers over the age of 23. The rate is different to the Living Wage rates calculated by the Living Wage Foundation. The government rate is based on median earnings while the Living Wage Foundation rates are calculated according to the cost of living in London and the UK. 

About the real Living Wage

The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to what people need to make ends meet. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that choose to ensure their staff earn a wage that meets the costs and pressures they face in their everyday lives. 

The UK Living Wage is currently £10.90 per hour. There is a separate London Living Wage rate of £11.95 per hour.

These figures are announced each year by the Living Wage Foundation. The 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 London and the UK.

The Living Wage Foundation is the organisation at the heart of the UK movement of businesses, organisations and individuals who campaign for the simple idea that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.

About Living Wage Scotland & The Poverty Alliance

Living Wage Scotland was established in April 2014 by the Poverty Alliance with the aim of increasing the number of employers in Scotland who are recognised for paying their staff the real Living Wage.  

Living Wage Scotland is a partnership with the Living Wage Foundation and is funded by the Scottish Government.  

The Poverty Alliance is the national anti-poverty network in Scotland with a long track record in working with individuals and communities affected by poverty to take action, and in providing support to influence policies solutions in Scotland.  

Accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland span private, public and third sectors. SMEs make up 75% of the total number of employers and more than half of Scotland’s local councils are accredited. Find out more at www.scottishlivingwage.org/accredited.