South Londoners set for pay rise after London Living wage increase

Hundreds of thousands of Londoners will receive a 5.3 per cent pay rise as the London Living Wage is increased to £13.85 an hour.

The boost will be felt by more than 140,000 people working for 4,000 accredited Living Wage employers across the capital.

The special wage, created by the charity Living Wage Foundation, is based on independent calculations of what people need to afford their cost of living.

The Bird & Blend Tea Co, The Oval Cricket Ground, Shakespeare’s Globe and West Ham FC are just some of the employers in the capital that are signed up to the voluntary London Living Wage.

Mike Turner, co-founder of Bird & Blend Tea Co, which has a shop in Park Street, Southwark said: “We believe that all our employees should be paid fairly based on the cost of living. 

“Introducing the living wage has not only reduced our turnover but improved recruitment too. The blend of treating people fairly and doing business in the right way is our recipe for a successful company and a happy team.” 

Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said the new rate – which has increased by 70p from £13.15 – would “make a massive difference to workers”.

She said: “Low paid workers in London have been hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis and are still struggling to stay afloat amidst persistently high prices. 

“It’s a challenging time for businesses too, which is why it is so encouraging to see the Living Wage movement continue to grow at pace.”

According to recent research by the Living Wage Foundation more than half of Londoners earning below the London Living Wage have used a food bank in the last 12 months.  

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “By raising the salaries of the lowest paid workers in the capital, we can build a better and more prosperous city for all Londoners.”  

The National Living Wage, set by the government, is the legal minimum for over-21s and currently stands at £11.44 per hour. 

A full-time worker on the new London Living Wage will now earn £4,700 more per year than someone on the National Living Wage. 

(Picture: Pixels/ isaw-company)