Living Wage Foundation responds to announcement of a rise in the government's National Living Wage in 2024

After the Chancellor announced today at the Conservative Party Conference that the national living wage will rise to a minimum of £11 per hour starting in April 2024, our Director Katherine Chapman has provided a response.

It's good news for those on low incomes that the minimum wage will increase next April. However, it might not meet the actual cost of living, which is only calculated by the independent real Living Wage. The new rates for the real Living Wage will be revealed later in October, and we anticipate a considerable rise.

Nearly 14,000 employers have demonstrated their devotion to surpassing the bare minimum wage requirements by guaranteeing that their employees, comprising contracted workers such as janitors and guards, receive earnings that correspond to the actual Living Wage, covering the expenses of daily life. This is crucial, as our latest findings indicate that 60% of individuals receiving less than the actual Living Wage have resorted to food banks within the past year, with almost 40% frequently skipping meals.

Jo, a worker who operates machines at One+All, a company that pays its employees a fair Living Wage, shared that they used to always work for the minimum wage prior to joining One+All.

More than 30 years have passed since I left school, and throughout my working life, I've only ever received the minimum wage. This meant that I constantly faced financial struggles, having to carefully manage my bills, stick to a strict budget, and often struggling to make ends meet. Sadly, this was simply the reality of my situation.

I was ecstatic when I was offered a position at One+All three years ago. It was great news to find out that they pay their employees the real Living Wage! Working for such a company has had a significant positive impact on both me and my family. I, along with my colleagues, come to work every day with a happy and stress-free mindset, despite the rising prices of goods and services.

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