HUNDREDS of thousands of workers will get a pay rise from today as the Real Living Wage hits £9.90 across the UK.
Not every company has to pay this wage as it’s higher than the legal minimum, but thousands of workers will get a boost to their pay packet.
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Around 9,000 employers have pledged to pay more than the minimum required, with 300,000 workers benefitting from the extra cash.
From today it is £9.90 across the UK or £11.05 in London.
That’s an increase of 40p and 20p per hour respectively.
The Real Living Wage is different to the minimum wage, which is set to rise to £9.50 for workers aged over 23 next year.
It’s a voluntary pledge to pay the extra amount, which has been calculated as the “amount that meets everyday needs”, according to charity The Living Wage foundation.
So who exactly pays the higher amount? We explain.
Who pays the Real Living Wage?
Businesses big and small across the charity, public and private sectors, have promised to pay the Real Living Wage.
An additional 3,000 employers signed up to the policy over the pandemic, according to the Living Wage Foundation.
That brings the total number of living wage employers to 9,025.
Many are big names like:
- Aviva
- Burberry
- Ikea
- KPMG
- Nationwide
- Oxfam
- Nestle
Other examples include:
- Aberdeen City Council
- Everton Football Club
- Actionaid
- EDF Energy
- Queen Mary University of London
- Arup
How can I find out who pays the Real Living Wage?
You can find Real Living Wage employers near you using the Living Wage Foundation’s map.
Simply search your postcode or the business you’re looking for and press Go, or explore the map.
The organisation also has a list of the accredited employers, which you can also search, according to location, sector or industry.
What is the difference between the National Living Wage and the Real Living Wage?
The National Living Wage is the legal minimum employers have to pay workers aged 23 and over.
It is currently set at £8.91 but will rise to £9.50 next April.
It used to be called the National Minimum Wage but that now refers to the minimum hourly rate for workers under 23 years old.
The National Minimum Wage ranges between £4.30 an hour for apprentices to £8.91 for workers aged 21 or 22.
Meanwhile, the Real Living Wage is a completely optional figure that employers can decide to pay their workers.
It is based on the amount that charity the Living Wage Foundation claims is needed to cover everyday costs.
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