THE local authority has said it is keen to ensure that people "are paid fairly for the work they do", as support for Living Wage Week.

East Ayrshire Council will once again be supporting the annual event, running from November 4-10, as an accredited Living Wage employer.

The council, which achieved accredited living wage status in April 2020, is one of 3,750 Living Wage employers in Scotland. 

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It was recently announced that the real Living Wage rate has risen from £12 to £12.60 per hour for over 18s, meaning that more than 68,000 workers in Scotland will earn £2,262 more per year than the national living wage.

Speaking about the council's support for the cause, leader Douglas Reid said: “The council wholly supports the real Living Wage which, unlike the National Living Wage, is based on actual living costs including housing, fuel, food, childcare and transport.

“We are proud to have been accredited Living Wage employers since 2020 and are pleased to be helping to create a fairer, more inclusive standard of living for our employees.”

East Ayrshire Council leader, Douglas Reid.East Ayrshire Council leader, Douglas Reid. (Image: East Ayrshire Council) The real Living Wage is based on the cost of living and is calculated by taking into consideration things like the weekly food shop and household bills but also costs like a boiler breaking down or a birthday present for children.

This is different to the government minimum wage for over 23s, which is based on a percentage of median earnings, and all employers are required to pay it.