The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Cairn Housing Group receive at least the minimum hourly wage of £10.90 per hour. This Living Wage rate was announced on Thursday 22nd September 2022. This rate is higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £10.42 per hour.

In Scotland, 9% of all jobs pay less than the real Living Wage – around 221,000 jobs.

The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate calculated according to the costs of living. Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage on a voluntary basis, recognising the value of their workers and ensuring that a hard day’s work receives a fair day’s pay.

Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 450,000 people and put over £2 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers.

Jason MacGilp, Cairn Housing Group’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted that Cairn Housing Group has now officially become accredited as a Scottish Living Wage employer. Providing fair wages to our employees has always been a priority for us, and we have been paying the Living Wage as a minimum for many years.

“However, becoming accredited was a complex process due to our unique contractor and supplier structure, and it has taken us some time to get everything in place.

“We believe that it’s not just about paying our own employees fairly, but also ensuring that everyone in our extended partnership network benefits from the same principles of fairness and dignity in their work.

“Becoming a Living Wage employer is not just a checkbox; it’s a testament to our commitment to corporate social responsibility and our belief in the value of paying a fair wage for a fair day’s work. We are pleased to join the growing community of Living Wage employers and continue our mission of creating positive and sustainable impacts in the communities we serve.”

Peter Kelly, director of The Poverty Alliance, added : “We all need an income that is enough to cover our needs and protect us from poverty, and it’s only right that employers pay a wage that reflects the cost of living.

“Too many workers in Scotland are paid less than the real Living Wage and, at a time of rising costs, are struggling to stay afloat. The real Living Wage can offer protection from those rising costs.”

“Congratulations to Cairn on their Living Wage commitment, and I hope more organisations follow their lead by becoming Living Wage accredited.”