18 November 2014
Evangelical Alliance becomes a Living Wage employer
The Evangelical Alliance has become one of the latest organisations to become accredited as a Living Wage employer.
Earlier this month, the UK Living Wage rate was set at £7.85 per hour –an increase of 2.6 per cent on the 2013 rate and 21 per cent higher than the national minimum wage of £6.50 per hour.
The London Living Wage rate has been set at £9.15.
The Alliance joins more than 1,000 Living Wage accredited organisations across the country.
Marine McKenzie, the Alliance's head of HR, said: "We believe in a generous God and one whose heart is turned towards the poor. As the UK's leading evangelical Christian umbrella organisation we believe it is our duty to set an example to our member churches and organisations to pay salaries that reflect the cost of living.
"The Evangelical Alliance is a great place to work and we're delighted to have received this Living Wage accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to treating our staff with dignity and respect; valuing the unique part they play within our organisation."
According to KPMG, nearly five million people in the UK are earning less than the Living Wage, with 2.2 million children in poverty with at least one working parent.
Archbishop of York John Sentamu, chair of the Living Wage Commission, has said: "Our call for a Living Wage recognises that we need to value each and every person and that people should be paid a fair wage for a fair day's work."
Rhys Moore, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said it will take concerted effort by employers to raise the wages of the five million living below the Living Wage line.
"The good news is that the number of accredited Living Wage employers has more than doubled this year – over 1,000 employers across the UK have signed up," he said. "In the last 12 months the number of Living Wage employers in the FSTE 100 has risen from four to 18 including Canary Wharf Group and Standard Life.
"Low pay costs the taxpayer money –firms that pay the minimum wage are seeing their workers' pay topped up through the benefits system. So it's right that we recognise and celebrate those employers who are voluntarily signing up to the higher Living Wage, and saving the taxpayer money in the process.
"The Living Wage is an independent calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day's work with a fair day's pay."
