Grant slates "disgrace" of Highlanders' low pay
Local Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is calling for the living wage to be extended to more workers across the Highlands and Islands, with latest figures showing thousands of people across the region in low paid jobs.
Figures from the Office of National Statistics indicate that over 32,000 Highlanders earn less than the living wage.
Ms Grant, a long time campaigner for the living wage, has called for it to be extended to workers on public contracts via the Procurement Reform Bill, and has urged Scottish Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney to support the move.
Scottish Labour will seek to amend the bill when it has its final reading in Holyrood soon.
The living wage is currently set at £7.65 an hour, and would mean a pay rise of over £2,600 to a full time worker on the minimum wage. Scotland spends £10 billion a year on public contracts, and Rhoda Grant MSP wants this money to deliver fairer pay for workers across the Highlands and Islands.
Said the MSP on Monday (28):"These figures are hugely concerning, and underline why we need to extend the living wage to more workers as soon as possible across the Highlands and Islands. It is simply wrong that over 32,000 people across the region are not given a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.
"Delivering the living wage will make a huge difference for people facing rising energy bills, mounting debts and spiralling child care costs. It will also improve local economies, with more money being spent in the locally in the Highlands and Islands rather than going into the pockets of Chief Executives.
"The SNP boast that they delivered the living wage for public sector staff. What they don’t tell you is that cleaning, catering and retail staff in their departments have their jobs subcontracted out, meaning they aren’t entitled to the living wage.
"It is a disgrace that this low pay loophole exists. We need to close it to deliver better wages for working people in the Highlands and Islands and across Scotland."
* The legal minimum wage is currently £6.31 an hour (£12,304.50 a year) and the living wage put at £7.65 (£14,917.50).
