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Biggest employers 'not paying living wage' Biggest employers 'not paying living wage'
(about 11 hours later)
Only 10 of the 50 biggest employers in Scotland said they pay all staff working for them the living wage, according to a BBC investigation.Only 10 of the 50 biggest employers in Scotland said they pay all staff working for them the living wage, according to a BBC investigation.
The living wage is a voluntary hourly rate that is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK.The living wage is a voluntary hourly rate that is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK.
At £7.85 an hour, it is 21% higher than the legally-set minimum wage of £6.50.At £7.85 an hour, it is 21% higher than the legally-set minimum wage of £6.50.
The BBC research also showed that most Scottish Premiership football clubs were paying some of their off-pitch staff less than the living wage.The BBC research also showed that most Scottish Premiership football clubs were paying some of their off-pitch staff less than the living wage.
The living wage has been adopted by more than 1,000 employers across the UK.The living wage has been adopted by more than 1,000 employers across the UK.
Firms who have signed up to the voluntary scheme include Barclays, Standard Life and the National Portrait Gallery, as well as many local councils and charities.Firms who have signed up to the voluntary scheme include Barclays, Standard Life and the National Portrait Gallery, as well as many local councils and charities.
The BBC Scotland Investigates: Low Pay For Life programme asked 50 of Scotland's biggest employers and the majority said they either did not pay all staff the living wage, or would not say.The BBC Scotland Investigates: Low Pay For Life programme asked 50 of Scotland's biggest employers and the majority said they either did not pay all staff the living wage, or would not say.
Some said they had other benefits for staff such as discount cards and share schemes and made clear that they paid at least the national minimum wage.Some said they had other benefits for staff such as discount cards and share schemes and made clear that they paid at least the national minimum wage.
Only 10 companies responded in a way that suggested their pay policy was in line with the Living Wage Foundation's definition of a Living Wage employer.Only 10 companies responded in a way that suggested their pay policy was in line with the Living Wage Foundation's definition of a Living Wage employer.
That requires them to be in the process of changing all contracts with companies, such as cleaning and security firms, to ensure that any staff working regularly on their premises are paid the living wage as well as their directly-employed workers.That requires them to be in the process of changing all contracts with companies, such as cleaning and security firms, to ensure that any staff working regularly on their premises are paid the living wage as well as their directly-employed workers.
To see which of Scotland's largest employers answered our survey and what they had to say about the living wage, click here.To see which of Scotland's largest employers answered our survey and what they had to say about the living wage, click here.
About 200 organisations in Scotland are accredited by the Living Wage foundation.About 200 organisations in Scotland are accredited by the Living Wage foundation.
One of the biggest is the accountancy firm, KPMG.One of the biggest is the accountancy firm, KPMG.
The Head of Infrastructure and Government at KPMG, Jenny Stewart, said it was the right thing to do as a company.The Head of Infrastructure and Government at KPMG, Jenny Stewart, said it was the right thing to do as a company.
She said now the Living Wage was established it was not costing a penny more.She said now the Living Wage was established it was not costing a penny more.
Charity work 'Low pay trap'
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training, said more had to be done to ensure people were not stuck on low pay for life.
She said: "There is a kind of 'no pay, low pay' trap that people get caught up in, a sort of cycle.
"At Scottish government level, we don't have the kind of specific powers that we need to have over things like the minimum wage in order to effect concrete change through government measures.
"However, what we are doing, I think quite effectively, is using the soft power of government to encourage and cajole employers who are still not quite there yet in their thinking, to be realising the enormous benefit of paying their staff a living wage.
"We know from studies that it does result in increased productivity, much reduced staff turnover - obviously, and a general much better feeling in the workplace."
The CBI, which represents employers, has warned of job losses if companies were required to pay the Living Wage.The CBI, which represents employers, has warned of job losses if companies were required to pay the Living Wage.
It added: "Rather than requiring firms to introduce pay rises that many cannot afford, we must look at ways to raise living standards sustainably."It added: "Rather than requiring firms to introduce pay rises that many cannot afford, we must look at ways to raise living standards sustainably."
Football fans have been putting pressure on clubs to pay all staff the Living Wage.Football fans have been putting pressure on clubs to pay all staff the Living Wage.
Celtic, in particular, has been pressed on why it has not introduced it.Celtic, in particular, has been pressed on why it has not introduced it.
A group of fans lodged a resolution at the club's AGM last year, on behalf of shareholders, asking the club to implement the Living Wage.A group of fans lodged a resolution at the club's AGM last year, on behalf of shareholders, asking the club to implement the Living Wage.
But clubs have objected to football being singled out in the Living Wage debate and said they did community and charity work.But clubs have objected to football being singled out in the Living Wage debate and said they did community and charity work.
BBC Scotland approached all the clubs in the Premiership asking them to complete a survey on wages.BBC Scotland approached all the clubs in the Premiership asking them to complete a survey on wages.
The clubs responded through the SPFL making it clear they would not take part.The clubs responded through the SPFL making it clear they would not take part.
As a result, the production team contacted clubs in the Premiership enquiring about hospitality work.As a result, the production team contacted clubs in the Premiership enquiring about hospitality work.
Our team established that seven of the clubs - including Celtic - were employing staff at below the living wage.Our team established that seven of the clubs - including Celtic - were employing staff at below the living wage.
Some of the contracts were with the club directly, others were for work at the stadium through a third party contractor.Some of the contracts were with the club directly, others were for work at the stadium through a third party contractor.
The programme was unable to establish what the pay rates at the remaining clubs were. All of them paid the statutory minimum wage or above.The programme was unable to establish what the pay rates at the remaining clubs were. All of them paid the statutory minimum wage or above.
The chief executive of Celtic, Peter Lawwell, has a pay package worth nearly £1m a year.The chief executive of Celtic, Peter Lawwell, has a pay package worth nearly £1m a year.
From information gathered during the BBC's investigation, someone working in hospitality at the club would need to work for about 70 years to earn what he earns in a year.From information gathered during the BBC's investigation, someone working in hospitality at the club would need to work for about 70 years to earn what he earns in a year.
Peter Kelly from the Poverty Alliance, which promotes the living wage, told the programme that the clubs needed to do more.Peter Kelly from the Poverty Alliance, which promotes the living wage, told the programme that the clubs needed to do more.
He said: "It's really unacceptable, I mean we would say the same about the majority of businesses in any other sector not paying the living wage - we really think that they can.He said: "It's really unacceptable, I mean we would say the same about the majority of businesses in any other sector not paying the living wage - we really think that they can.
"These are clubs that are leaders very often in their communities. They need to be showing leadership in terms of pay as well, there's a lot more they could be doing.""These are clubs that are leaders very often in their communities. They need to be showing leadership in terms of pay as well, there's a lot more they could be doing."
The clubs involved declined the opportunity to comment on the BBC's findings.The clubs involved declined the opportunity to comment on the BBC's findings.
Results of BBC football research in full:Results of BBC football research in full:
BBC Scotland Investigates: Low Pay for Life is on BBC1 Scotland on 18 May at 20:30 and on the iplayer afterwards.BBC Scotland Investigates: Low Pay for Life is on BBC1 Scotland on 18 May at 20:30 and on the iplayer afterwards.