Inverclyde Companies Lead the Way With Real Living Wage

News

13 Jan

An Inverclyde business owner says it's 'simply wrong' to pay staff members less than they can live on.

Denise Gregory, co-founder and director of Trade Right International (TRI), says Inverclyde’s status as one of the country’s worst areas of social deprivation means the firm feels a responsibility not just to its workers but to the wider community to pay a wage employees are able to live on.

The firm, based on the Lynedoch Industrial Estate, is one of 30 across Inverclyde who are committed to paying their staff the Real Living Wage of £12.60 an hour for all employees over the age of 18.

The Real Living Wage (RLW) is calculated based on the cost of living, and compares to a National Living Wage rate of £11.44 an hour for those aged 21 and over and a National Minimum Wage of £8.60 for young people aged 18 to 20.

Trade Right International (TRI) is a community interest company which helps to support vulnerable people, in both Inverclyde and Ghana, into employability through their manufacturing business and was one of the first companies in Inverclyde to implement the living wage.

Denise spoke to the Tele as Inverclyde Council launched a new bid to promote Real Living Wage accreditation in the area.

She said: "As a social business we believe it’s important that the people we employ are being given the best chance to get back on their feet.

"We think it’s important that all our team feel that they are valued and are being paid accordingly.

"Many of our team are in recovery from backgrounds which could be poor mental health, addiction, or offending.

"Coming from this type of background underscores the need of a fair wage which enables them to pay their bills and live without the additional stress of not enough money for the basics.

"Inverclyde is one the country's worst areas of social deprivation. As employers we have a responsibility not only to our business, but to the community our businesses are in."

Of the 30 accredited companies on the Inverclyde list, more than a third are registered charities who offer services such as social care and childcare.

One is social care charity Quarriers, which employs around 300 staff supplying services such as drug and alcohol recovery, supported living and help for unpaid carers.

Alistair Dickson, director of people and technology at Quarriers, says they will be increasing their hourly pay to the RLW rate of £12.60 in April.
**He said:** *“Our staff go over and above on a daily basis and we want to reward them as best we can.*
*"In truth, we would like to pay our staff more, but because of the way we are funded, and because we are a charity, we can only manage for frontline workers the real living wage.*
*“But we are fully committed to [paying] that."*
Quarriers have been paying their employees the living wage since 2018 and have backed the campaign for Glasgow City Region to become a Living Wage Place.
Mr Dickson is part of an action group of employers who are encouraging other business to be accredited.

He continued: "If we are a charity, and we can manage to do it, then other businesses should be willing to do it.

“Charity and third sector organisations exist to meet unmet needs in our communities, so the value base is very different from a company which is motivated by financial gain and profit.

"Of course we have to be efficient and manage the public purse well but why would you not want to pay your staff as much as you can.

“It improves employee morale, it will show your employees that you value them and should help with recruitment and retention of staff."