Great Britain: the Living Wage to be calculated and announced earlier than usual in September

In a first, the Living Wage Foundation which was established in 2011 and sets a minimum hourly wage that now more than 10,000 employers voluntarily pay their staff, will calculate and announce its 2022-2023 ‘Living Wage’ in September, two months earlier usual (November). This change in timing was decided by the Living Wage Foundation (c.f. article No.10434) in order to help employees cope with the record inflation currently hitting the U.K. (9% in April). Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “The real Living Wage is the UK’s only wage rate independently calculated to meet the cost of living and, for workers struggling to keep their heads above water as prices surge, it’s more important than ever before. That’s why, with the rate of inflation fast approaching double figures, we are bringing forward the annual announcement of the 2022-23 Living Wage rates to late September. Companies paying the living wage, including Google, Ikea, Aviva, HSBC, KPMG, drinks giant Diageo, and Nestlé, still have a few months to update their salaries. Today, the Living Wage is £9.90 per hour (€11.6 euros), and £11.05 (€13) in London. Since the start of April 2022 the national minimum wage has been set at £9.50 per hour (€11.15) for those aged 23 and over.