On 4th October 2021 Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) became accredited as a Living Wage Employer. The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Forres Area Community Trust 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. Despite this, Forres Area Community Trust has committed to pay the real Living Wage and deliver 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 45000 people in Scotland and put over £240 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.
“FACT’s aim is to create a better place to live, work and visit” said Debbie Herron Development Manager for FACT, she continued “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.”
Peter Kelly, Director of The Poverty Alliance said: Too many workers in Scotland are in the grip of poverty and employers choosing to pay at least the real Living Wage can loosen that grip. Payment of the real Living Wage allows those in work to become more included in society, better meet their everyday needs, and feel that their value and hard work is recognised by their employer. Congratulations to Forres Area Community Trust on their Living Wage commitment, and I hope more organisations follow their lead by becoming Living Wage accredited.
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.
Our Living Wage employer network includes lots of smaller employers as well as larger and iconic brands like SSE, Standard Life Aberdeen, Barrs, Brewdog, & D.C. Thomson. We hope to see many more employers following their example.”
