Kingston Council marks one year as a London Living Wage employer

RBK is one of 6,500 Living Wage employers throughout the UK, having achieved accreditation in September 2019. The Council pledged to pay LLW to all employed staff (or Living Wage outside London) and 72 contractors, with a further commitment to paying London Living Wage for the remaining 17 contractors over a period of three years ending in September 2022. 

The real Living Wage, higher than the Government set National Living wage, is an independently calculated hourly rate of pay that is based on the actual cost of living. It is calculated yearly and announced by the Living Wage Foundation as part of Living Wage Week.  

Living Wage Week 2020, which runs from 9 until 15 November starts on Monday 9 November, with this year’s theme championing the contributions of staff in low paid and less secure roles, and recognising the vital value they bring to the workforce.

Living Wage is fully embedded into the Council’s commissioning process since October 2019 and, as a result, over 92 suppliers are already paying the Living Wage to their workforce. The Council has been working with its contractors and providers to ensure its supply chain is compliant.  

Nearly 4,000 Council employees and contractors staff are paid Living Wage. We have seen an increase by more than 1,000 contractors staff benefiting from a fair wage since the Council gained its accreditation.

Councillor Andreas Kirsch, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Commissioning, said:

“We have made great strides in the last 12 months since being accredited as a Living Wage Employer and we are determined to keep building on this progress and maintain our commitment to raising living standards for workers.

“Paying a Living Wage is good for both employers and employees, and it has been brilliant to see more suppliers follow our example.”

Laura Gardiner, director, Living Wage Foundation said: 

“Kingston Council continues to show their commitment to the movement of nearly 7,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily go above and beyond the government’s minimum to make sure that all their staff earn enough to live on.

“During Living Wage Week it’s right that we recognise those employers, like Kingston Council that have stepped up during an incredibly challenging time. 

“These are the employers who will lead us out of the crisis and allow us to rebuild and recover.”  

Notes to editors: 

The UK Living Wage Campaign was launched in 2001 by members of London Citizens. The founders were parents from London, who despite working two or more minimum wage jobs struggled financially and were left with no time for family and community life. Since its launch, the campaign has impacted tens of thousands of employees and put over £210 million into the pockets of some of the UK's lowest paid workers.

The Living Wage Foundation is the accrediting body who awards the Living Wage Employer Mark to Living Wage employers. They're committed to ensuring all employed staff, including contract workers, are paid the Living Wage by employers.

For more information on the Living Wage visit www.livingwage.org.uk.