Over 11,000 UK Businesses Boost Wages to Ease Cost-of-Living Crisis
Over 11,000 UK businesses voluntarily pay the Living Wage Foundation's minimum wage, benefiting over 300,000 employees. In Leeds, prominent employers like Leeds City Council have increased wages for at least 11,000 employees. Starting April 2023, the minimum wage in Leeds will rise to £10.90 per hour, mirroring the Living Wage Foundation's rate.
Leeds City Council, committed to paying the Living Wage Foundation's minimum wage from April 2023, aims to ease cost-of-living pressures. The council partnered with Zero Waste Leeds to distribute second-hand coats this winter, keeping locals warm who couldn't afford heating.
The government's 'national living wage' is not based on living costs but targets 66% of median earnings by 2024. The upcoming increase in Leeds benefits apprentices too, with the minimum full-time salary rising to £21,029.
The Living Wage Foundation's initiative, supported by Leeds City Council and other local employers, helps combat rising costs. With 75.1% of UK professionals considering job changes due to costs, the wage increase offers relief. Apprentices also benefit, as the national minimum wage is considered insufficient.
