Overview
- Almost half a million workers stand to benefit through about 16,000 accredited employers, after nearly 2,500 new accreditations in the past year.
- The UK rate increases by 85p to £13.45 and the London rate by 95p to £14.80, equivalent to 6.7% and 6.9% rises.
- A full-time worker on the real living wage would earn about £2,418 more a year than someone on the government minimum, or £5,050 more in London, according to the Foundation.
- The real living wage is a voluntary, independently calculated benchmark paid to workers aged 18 and over, distinct from the statutory national living wage.
- The government minimum for April is expected to be around £12.71 subject to the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation, as business groups highlight recruitment and retention benefits yet caution on costs, while unions press for public-sector pay to meet the new benchmark.