Edinburgh Trams is now officially a Living Wage employer after receiving accreditation. This Living Wage commitment means that everyone working at Edinburgh Trams will receive a minimum of £10.90 per hour – significantly higher than the national minimum wage for over 23s of £9.50 an hour.
Su Bucher, HR Manager at Edinburgh Trams, explained more: “We recognise that our dedicated workforce is our most valuable asset, and we’re proud to be accredited as Living Wage employers. As well as recognising the vital contribution of colleagues to the delivery of an award-winning, world-class transport system, our commitment to fair pay will help us to recruit and retain new members of the Edinburgh Trams team as we look towards the launch of services to Newhaven.”
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate calculated according to the costs of living. Employers sign up to pay this rate voluntarily and since 2011 it has delivered a pay rise to over 59,000 people in Scotland and put over £370 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.
Jenny Gilruth, Scottish Government’s Minister for Transport commented: “By announcing its accreditation as a Living Wage employer and paying the real Living Wage, Edinburgh Trams is showing a commitment to fair work and its staff. Paying the real Living wage ensures workers have more money in their pockets and research shows it boosts staff morale and contributes to worker well-being and job satisfaction which in turn improves retention rates and reduces recruitment costs. I commend Edinburgh Trams for achieving this significant milestone and I encourage all employers regardless of size or sector to follow their example and consider becoming an accredited real Living Wage employer.”
91% of jobs in Scotland now pay the real Living Wage – higher than any other UK nation. Despite this, there are still over 221,000 jobs in Scotland paying less than the real Living Wage.