Ards and North Down Borough Council Becomes Living Wage Employer

Ards and North Down Borough Council has joined the growing number of businesses and organisations in Northern Ireland to become an accredited Living Wage Employer. 

This means that 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 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 because they believe that a hard day's work deserves a fair day's pay. Ards and North Down is only the second council, after Belfast City Council, to become accredited.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Alistair Cathcart said:

"We are very proud to be accredited as a Living Wage Employer and to play our part in ensuring that workers earn enough to participate fully in family and community life. As a key employer in Ards and North Down we hope our accreditation encourages other local businesses and organisations who don't yet do so, to consider offering a real Living Wage."

Councillor Barry McKee brought forward the proposal that the Council should seek to become a Living Wage Employer and is delighted that accreditation has now been achieved. He said:

"I don't believe that workers employed by councils or workers that provide council services should be paid a wage that is below one that gives a decent standard of living as a minimum. This accreditation will keep wages fair, year in year out and is a real win for those on the lowest pay."

Mary McManus, Living Wage NI, Regional Manager added:

"We are delighted that Ards and North Down has become the second council to accredit as a Living Wage Employer and the first council outside of Belfast to do so. At one in five, NI has the highest rate of jobs paid below the Living Wage in the UK.  When a local council shows leadership by becoming a Living Wage Employer not only does it provide a wage increase to their direct employees it also provides a much-needed wage increase to low paid workers in their supply chain and encourages other local businesses to sign up. More and more local businesses are realising that not only is real Living Wage accreditation good for workers, it is also an investment in their business improving their recruitment and retention. We look forward to working with Ards and North Down Borough Council to promote the real Living Wage in the Borough."

You can find out more about the Living Wage by visiting www.adviceni.net/campaigns-projects/living-wage-ni.

Photo caption (L-R): Mary McManus (Living Wage NI Regional Manager), Mayor Alistair Cathcart, Ruth Baxter (Living Wage Program Officer), Susie McCullough (Chief Executive, Ards and North Down Borough Council).