Living Wage

Staff in the lowest paid positions at Powys County Council will receive the living wage foundation level from April 2016, the county council has confirmed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Meeting in Llandrindod Wells last month (18 February), cabinet confirmed that from 1 April 2016, more than 1,900 of the lowest paid posts will see their hourly rate rise to £8.25, an increase of 40 pence. The increase will benefit over 1,400 members of staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Powys was the first non-Labour controlled council in Wales to adopt the principles of the Living Wage, which is based on the amount an individual needs to earn to cover the basic cost of living. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Phil Pritchard, Cabinet Member for Human Resources, said: “Our decision to increase the hourly rate of our lowest paid posts shows our commitment to the principles of the living wage level. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Some of the jobs carried out by our lowest paid staff are greatly valued by our residents so it is only fair that these staff are paid a decent wage. By supporting the principles of the living wage, we are able to achieve this. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There are a number of other benefits that come from supporting the living wage. As well as helping to address the issue of low pay it also assists the council in tackling potential poverty. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Numerous studies suggest that the advantages of an organisation implementing the living wage include a reduction of absenteeism, a reduction in staff turnover and also improves the morale, motivation and commitment amongst staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Finally, this will have a positive impact on the local economy. By putting a little extra in people’s pockets, this could potentially help stimulate local businesses in the county.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​