The Living Wage Foundation is pleased to announce that, M&S Water Services has been, accredited as a Living Wage employer.
The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at M&S Water Services, regardless of whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors and suppliers; receive a minimum hourly wage of £7.85 – significantly higher than the national minimum wage of £6.50.
The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public; it is a social consensus about what people need to make ends meet.
M&S Water Services Director, Michael Harkin said “We’re delighted to have been given full accreditation which will help ensure a fair level of pay enabling a better work-life balance to all our staff. We’re also extremely proud to be the first water industry contracting company to become a living wage employer. We hope that in making this commitment more companies within the water / utility industry will follow suit.”
Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
Living Wage Foundation Director, Rhys Moore said: “We are delighted to welcome M&S Water Services to the Living Wage movement as an accredited employer.
“The best employers are voluntarily signing up to pay the Living Wage now. The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day’s work with a fair day’s pay.
“We have accredited over 1,500 leading employers, including M&S Water Services, ranging from independent printers, bookshops and breweries, to well-known companies such as Nationwide, Aviva and SSE. These businesses recognise that clinging to the national minimum wage is not good for business. Customers expect better than that. ”
Media Contact
Living Wage
Gillian Owen, 07876 246 150, gillian.owen@citizensuk.org.uk
M&S Water Services
Thomas Harkin 07917 170 247, Thomas.harkin@mandswater.co.uk
