More employers have been urged by the Scottish Government to pay the Living Wage which has risen to £8.75 a 30p increase in line with the cost of living.

Keith Brown,Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work in the Scottish Government said:

 “The Living Wage is not just positive for employees, it also makes sense for businesses, having been proven to increase productivity, reduce staff absence, and improve morale. It also sends a strong and valuable signal to customers about fairness.”

Keith Brown is pictured with (from L-R) Peter Kelly, Poverty Alliance, Marie McMillan Administrator and Morrison McDonald Estimator both from akp.

“Scotland performs exceptionally well in this area, having the highest proportion of employees paid at or above the Living Wage out of any of the UK nations, and well over a quarter of all UK Living Wage accreditations.”

In October the Scottish Government announced that it would work with Health and Social Care Partnerships to deliver their pledge that all care workers will receive the Living Wage an hour for sleep overs. This is to be in place during 2018/2019.

Care workers in Scotland have received the hourly Living Wage since 1st October 2016 and this will now include sleepovers.

A spokesperson for Orkney Islands Council said:

“Our frontline care staff are paid above the real living wage for their main contracted hours.”

“When sleepovers are included, the average hourly payment received is above the real living wage for the vast majority of frontline care staff.”

“The council has reviewed its sleepover payments and a report on this will be considered by councillors in the near future.”

Orkney Islands Council employs over 1800 people across its services and have over 1000  zero hours contracts in place.

Reporter: Fiona Grahame