Fair pay

Information on the Scottish Living Wage

Scottish Living Wage

The Living Wage Scotland campaign, funded by the Scottish Government, was established in 2014. The Scottish Government, through Fair Work, is clear that in relation to pay, the minimum standard should be that all employees receive the Living Wage.

Paying the real Living Wage has benefits for employees and employers. It can:

  • lift people out of poverty
  • contribute to better health and wellbeing
  • increase motivation and productivity
  • reduce sickness absence

The real Living Wage is calculated yearly, based on the money that families need to survive. For this reason, it’s different and higher than the national living wage, which is the minimum pay for those who are 25 years old or older.

The Scottish Government offers an accreditation scheme to employers, to achieve this. All directly employed staff over 18, as well as contractors, should be paid the real living wage as part of this accreditation.