University extends living wage pledge
Edinburgh is stepping up its commitment to paying a living wage.
The move stems from Edinburgh’s recent accreditation as a Living Wage employer.
The University is to extend the benefit to regular contractors as well as its employees.
The award was approved by the Poverty Alliance, which delivers the Living Wage accreditation scheme in Scotland, in partnership with the Living Wage Foundation.
Voluntary scheme
The Living Wage is an hourly rate, independently calculated each year according to the costs of living.
At £8.75 per hour, it is significantly higher than the statutory minimum wage for over 25s of £7.50 per hour.
The University has paid its eligible staff the Living Wage rate since 2012. Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis.
Having paid the Voluntary Living Wage to all eligible directly employed staff since 2012, I am delighted that as a socially responsible employer the University is now making a commitment to extend this benefit to contractors regularly working on our premises.
Extending benefits
Accreditation means that the Living Wage will extend to contractors working regularly on University premises.
Contractors will be moved on to the Living Wage when agreements are retendered or renewed.
Apprentices are not included in the Living Wage Foundation’s accreditation requirements, in recognition of their additional training costs.
We are delighted to welcome the University of Edinburgh to the movement of over 1000 Living Wage employers in Scotland. I hope more organisations follow their lead by becoming accredited.