Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is now an accredited Living Wage Employer. They are now the third County Council in Wales to be awarded the Living Wage employer accreditation.
Their commitment to the Living Wage will see no one working at the council paid below the current minimum real Living Wage hourly rate of £10.90, this is higher than the Government’s National Living Wage for over 23s, which currently stands at £10.42 per hour. By earning the real Living Wage full-time workers receiving the independently calculated real Living Wage earn about £936 a year more than those on the government’s ‘National Living Wage’ – A huge boost in earnings which makes a big difference to workers.
In Wales, more than a tenth of all workers (11.8%) earn less than they need to get by, with around 144,000 jobs paying less than the real Living Wage. Rhondda Cynon Taf County Council is now one of the three council in Wales to commit to paying the real Living Wage to all staff.
“I am extremely proud that Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has been accredited as a Living Wage Employer.
We were already paying many of our staff the Real Living Wage, especially those working in the social care sector, however, we have now gone over and above that.
Better pay benefits everyone, from the person receiving it to the local businesses in which they shop. It also helps us as an employer to attract and retain the staff that deliver the vital services that the nearly a quarter of a million residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf rely on.”
Councillor Maureen Webber – Deputy Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council
“I’m really pleased that Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has received accreditation as a Living Wage employer. This is a huge achievement and one that will put more money into the pockets of its workforce.
It is also a practical demonstration of the important role public bodies in Wales have in leading by example when it comes to the real living wage. Cynnal Cymru are committed to continuing to build on this success throughout the year to encourage other employers to follow suit.”
Hannah Blythyn – Deputy Minister for Social Partnership
“We’re thrilled to welcome Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council to the Living Wage Wales family, joining over 500 employers covering more than 150,000 employees.
Living Wage Wales has just celebrated its most successful month, and we’re really pleased to see the momentum Living Wage Wales is developing and the impact this is having in reducing in-work poverty. Our message to all employers in Wales is that joining this movement is not beyond you – Living Wage Wales can work with you to accredit and enjoy the business benefits of being a real Living Wage employer. We’d encourage all employers in Wales to get in touch with Living Wage Wales to discuss becoming a real Living Wage employer.”
Harry Thompson – Living Wage Wales Senior Programme Lead