Ards and North Down Council Steps Up as Living Wage Advocate
Ards and North Down Borough Council becomes Living Wage Employer
Ards and North Down Borough Council has become the second council in Northern Ireland after Belfast to give employees the Living Wage. The council has joined the growing number of businesses and organisations in Northern Ireland to become an accredited Living Wage Employer. Every member of staff working for the council will earn a Real Living Wage, as well as ensuring any regularly contracted workers are paid the Living Wage hourly rate.
The Real Living Wage
The Real Living Wage is higher than the government’s minimum, or National Living Wage, and is an independently calculated hourly rate of pay that is based on the actual cost of living. It is calculated each year and is announced by the Living Wage Foundation as part of Living Wage Week. It is currently £12.60 in the UK, and £13.85 for London, reflecting the higher costs of living in the capital. More than 140 organisations in Northern Ireland voluntarily choose to pay the Real Living Wage. Ards and North Down is only the second council, after Belfast City Council, to become accredited.
Promoting Economic Fairness
Green Party councillors Barry McKee and Lauren Kendall brought forward the proposal that the council should seek to become a Living Wage Employer. Councillor McKee mentioned the importance of fair wages and setting a standard for other councils to follow. This move by Ards and North Down Council sets a crucial example for economic fairness in the region and aims to tackle the high rate of low-paid jobs in Northern Ireland. The accreditation is seen as an important step forward for providing a standard of living that ensures workers can afford essentials and support economic stability in the region.
Partnership for a Change
Mary McManus, Living Wage NI Regional Manager, expressed delight in Ards and North Down's accreditation as a Living Wage Employer. This milestone showcases leadership by the council in supporting fair wages not only for its employees but also for low-paid workers in the supply chain. The move is expected to encourage more local businesses to adopt the Real Living Wage, promoting economic growth and stability throughout the Borough.