What is the SNP policy on the Minimum Wage and Living Wage?

We are working to promote the Living Wage in all sectors and there are now just under 1800 living wage accredited employers in Scotland. We’re leading the UK, with around a quarter of accredited real Living Wage employers in the UK based in Scotland.

Scotland already has the highest proportion of employees paid the Living Wage of any country in the UK. The Scottish Government has paid all staff within their pay scheme, including NHS staff, the real Living Wage since 2011. We are also providing funding to enable adult social care workers to be paid the Scottish Living wage – benefitting up to 40,000 care workers. And we will ensure that all staff working in private nurseries delivering our childcare pledge are paid the real Living Wage too.

But we must go further if we are to ensure all workers receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. That’s why we support payment of the real Living Wage, which ensures people’s basic wage continue to meets the real cost of living. Our MPs will fight for a real Living Wage of over £10 by the end of this Parliament for all workers aged over 18.

We believe that the rate paid to 16 to 18 year olds and apprentices should increase in line with changes to the rate of the real Living Wage. We will call for the UK government to task the Low Pay Commission to deliver this national pay rise, and to put in place appropriate support for employers.