“LET’S MAKE PERTH SCOTLAND’S FIRST LIVING WAGE CITY” SAYS WISHART

Published date : 12 March, 2015

Perth and North Perthshire MP, Pete Wishart, is today launching his campaign to make Perth Scotland’s first living wage city. Pete will be working alongside Perth and Kinross Council to help ensure that businesses across the city pay the living wage of £7.85 per hour. Pete will be taking this campaign round Perth employers in the next few weeks

Speaking today (Thursday) Mr Wishart said:

“The living wage is good for employees and good for the businesses they serve. It increases productivity, reduces absenteeism and fosters and improves industrial relations. It ensures that employees are lifted out of low pay and families can improve their standard of living. More than that, it improves the economy. If people have more disposable income it means they have more to spend in businesses across the city.

“That is why I want to see Perth recognised as Scotland’s first ‘Living Wage City’. We are already half way there with most of our big employers living wage employers and a commitment from Perth and Kinross to advance this agenda. Already Aviva, Scottish and Southern Energy, Stagecoach and the council themselves pay the living wage, let’s see if we can now get all of our other businesses to sign up.

“I am delighted that Perth and Kinross Council is backing this call and supporting this endeavour recognising this as a positive move for our city and for the people who live and work here. I now invite all other political parties to back this call and help us achieve this.”

Backing up Mr Wishart’s call, Councillor Ian Miller, leader of Perth and Kinross added

‘I am pleased to back this intiative from our local MP and the council will do all it can to ensure that Perth does become a living wage city.

“I raised this aspiration during the recent Budget meeting in the Council in connection with the challenges faced by an increasing low wage economy, proposing that we use our status as a Living Wage employer and the impending Procurement Reform legislation to set clear expectations of our contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers to pay the Scottish Living Wage.

“Perth & Kinross Council is determined to set an example for all employers in our area.”

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