Celebrating Living Wage Week (5-11th Nov 2017) with LESL and Poverty Alliance

This week marks Living Wage Week (5-11^th Nov 2017), which is the annual celebration of the Living Wage movement in the UK.

The movement is made up of Employers, Experts, Organisations and People who all believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. Monday 6^th November 2017 saw the new Living Wage rates announced in Scotland which adequately reflect the cost of living. The ‘real Living Wage’ is currently £8.75 per hour.

Commenting, SNP MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston Fulton MacGregor said:

“Low pay can negatively affect both home and work life, so this is good news for individuals, families, businesses and society as a whole”.

The Scottish Living Wage Accreditation Initiative was established in April 2014 with the aim of increasing the number of employers in Scotland who are recognised for paying their staff the Living Wage. Hosted by The Poverty Alliance, the initiative works in partnership with the Living Wage Foundation and is funded by the Scottish Government. They award the Living Wage employer mark to Scottish employers – a symbol of responsible business practice.

SNP MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston Fulton MacGregor further comments:

“I was delighted to visit the Chief Executive Ronnie Smith of LESL, an accredited Living Wage employer in my constituency of Coatbridge and Chryston on the 6^th of November. LESL is a not for profit distributing enterprise that has operated in the field of economic and business development for over 20 years in Lanarkshire. As well as it’s invaluable contribution to the community it is now leading by example to other businesses by paying a real living wage to all their employees”.

Chief Executive Ronnie Smith of LESL said:

“The Living Wage is so important if we’re truly driving for a high wage, low unemployment Scottish economy.”

Lynn Anderson – Living Wage Accreditation Officer (Scotland) for Poverty Alliance, who also attended the meeting said:

“Thank you LESL for their continued commitment as an accredited Living Wage employer. Their support for the real Living Wage demonstrates leadership to small businesses in Lanarkshire and beyond that paying the Living Wage is not only the right thing to do, but makes good business sense”.