Kanzen Karate has today accredited as a Living Wage employer. The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at the Dundee based charity receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.90 per hour. This Living Wage rate was announced on Monday 15th November 2021 as part of Living Wage Week. This rate is significantly higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £9.50 per hour (from 1 April 2022)
In Scotland, more than 14% of all jobs pay less than the real Living Wage – around 330,000 jobs. Despite this, Kanzen Karate has committed to pay the real Living Wage and deliver a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.
There are now over 20,000 workers in Dundee covered by a Living Wage commitment and the campaign to make Dundee the first Living Wage City has continued to grow.
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 55,000 people in Scotland and put over £310 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.
Roy O’Kane, Kanzen Karate Chief Officer said: “The dignity of work is so important to a well-rounded society, and we are delighted to be playing our part by becoming an accredited Living Wage Employer. Kanzen is an organisation rooted in the communities to which we operate and paying the Living Wage is such an important part of that.”
Fairness Spokesperson Councillor Georgia Cruickshank said: “I’m delighted that Kanzen Karate have joined over 100 accredited businesses in Dundee and committed to paying their staff this enhanced rate of pay.
“We know that paying the real Living Wage makes employees feel valued and offers more security and stability. By paying the real Living Wage Kanzen Karate are ensuring that their employees are valued.”
Fairness Spokesperson Councillor Lynne Short said: “I’m very proud to show my appreciation of Kanzen Karate and to celebrate their new living wage accreditation. Taking this step will encourage their peers to do likewise and I’m especially delighted that their young energetic workforce are earning the same as all others within other organisations because the Real Living Wage starts with a much younger base line.
“Everyone is rewarded regardless of age for a job well done.”
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 Kanzen Karate on their Living Wage commitment, and I hope more organisations follow their lead by becoming Living Wage accredited.”
Christine McCaig, Projects Coordinator, Living Wage Scotland said: “We’re delighted that Kanzen Karate has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of over 2700 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need to thrive and their accreditation helps strengthen the drive to Make Dundee a Living Wage City.
Our Living Wage employer network includes lots of smaller employers as well as larger and iconic brands like SSE, abrdn, Barrs, Mackie’s of Scotland, & D.C. Thomson. We hope to see many more employers following their example.”