Harry Gow has become accredited as a Living Wage employer and is sharing the news during Living Wage Week, which runs from 6th to 12th November 2023. Living Wage Week is the annual celebration of the Living Wage movement. Harry Gow has made a commitment to pay their staff no less than the real Living Wage.
This Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Harry Gow, including regular workers employed through third-party suppliers receive the real Living Wage. This rate is higher than the government minimum.
In Scotland, 91% of all jobs pay at least the real Living Wage, this is higher than any other UK nation. Despite this, nearly 1 in 10 jobs still pay less than the real Living Wage which equates to 221,000 jobs.
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate calculated according to the costs of living. Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage on a voluntary basis, recognising the value of their workers and ensuring that a hard day’s work receives a fair day’s pay.
Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 64,000 people in Scotland and put over £485 million extra into the pockets of low-paid Scottish workers.
David Gow, Managing Director, Harry Gow said:
“Since the beginning in 1979 we at Harry Gow Bakery have realised the importance of our employees towards our success, and although the last few years has seen tough trading conditions and sharp increases in costs, our company recognises that every employee is absolutely critical to our future success and have chosen to recognise this by adopting the real Living Wage”.
Peter Kelly, Director of The Poverty Alliance said:
“We all need an income that is enough to cover our needs and protect us from poverty, and it’s only right that employers pay a wage that reflects the cost of living. Too many workers in Scotland are paid less than the real Living Wage and, at a time of rising costs, are struggling to stay afloat. The real Living Wage can offer protection from those rising costs.”
“Congratulations to Harry Gow on their Living Wage commitment, and I hope more organisations follow their lead by becoming Living Wage accredited.”
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager said:
“We’re delighted that Harry Gow has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of over 3400 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need.
Our Living Wage employer network includes well known organisations such as SSE plc, ENABLE Scotland and the University of Strathclyde as well as lots of smaller employers and we hope to see many more follow their example.”