Ipswich Borough Council will be giving its lowest paid staff, and contracted staff, the new Living Wage Foundation rate of £8.75 an hour from 1st April 2018.
The announcement came today to mark the start of Living Wage Week across the country.
This rate is more than the Government’s National Living Wage, which is currently £7.50 an hour for workers over 25. This rate will also change next April.
The Borough Council has been an accredited Living Wage employer since 2014 - its new higher rate of pay applies to employees aged 18 and over.
The Borough is in good company – Oxfam, Nationwide and other leading banks, Aviva, Ikea, Abbeyfield Society and Norwich City Council are just some of the growing number of organisations to have signed up. Here in Ipswich, Lattice Lodge guest house is also an accredited Living Wage employer.
Council Leader David Ellesmere said: “As an accredited Living Wage employer, our own staff and contracted staff will receive the Living Wage Foundation rate of £8.75 an hour from April. The Council believes a fair wage is not only good for employees and their families, it benefits the local economy, too, since people have more spending power.
“The Borough Council is the only council in Suffolk to be an accredited Living Wage Foundation employer and we hope more councils and businesses in the county will follow our lead.”
