“Real” Living Wage rises by 5%
The Living Wage Foundation which sets the voluntary Living Wage has revealed the new wage rates – which nurseries in Scotland delivering funded early learning and childcare must pay.
Living Wage – also known as the Real Living Wage – which is linked to the cost of living rises from £12 per hour to £12.60, an increase of 5%, lower than the previous year’s uplift of 10%.
Across the UK, more than 15,000 employers are signed up to pay the Living Wage rates. This is calculated independently by the Living Wage Foundation based on the actual cost of living. It is not mandatory, unlike the National Living Wage which is the legal minimum hourly wage for 21- year-olds and over and the National Minimum Wage for under 21s.
Nurseries in Scotland are required to pay their staff delivering 1140 hours the Real Living Wage. Local authorities across Scotland are mandated to include this uplift in wages in their sustainable rates to providers.
Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland said: “Nurseries in Scotland delivering the 1140 hours of early learning and childcare are required to pay the Living Wage under the National Standard.
“This increase must be included in the sustainable funding rates that providers receive from local authorities so they are able to pay this uplift to their staff. It’s very welcome that professionals supporting and educating our children across the country are recognised and valued, which is reflected in the wages they receive. Our research with nurseries in Scotland showed that wage bills rose by 11.7% last year because they have to maintain differentials in pay to reward experience and qualifications. We now need to see that the funding pledged in the Programme for Government meets this 5% increase.
“For providers to be able to offer the flexible, affordable, high quality early learning and childcare our children deserve and need, we need to make sure the funding is right and covers all staffing costs. It’s important that the Scottish Government understands the full cost of delivering these places and makes sure they are funded sustainably.”
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