Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) has become an accredited Living Wage employer, announced today as part of Living Wage Week (9-13 November), an annual celebration of the Living Wage in the UK.
Its Living Wage commitment ensures that all directly employed staff and regular contractors are paid the real Living Wage – a rate that is independently calculated yearly based on the amount required to cover workers everyday needs. MSIP has announced they will also encourage new business tenants operating at the Innovation Parc to consider the real Living Wage, to maximise local benefit from the real Living Wage.
The new Living Wage rate for the UK was announced earlier in Living Wage Week and is now £9.50 per hour. This is 78p higher than the national living wage, which is the legal minimum that applies to workers from the age of 25. A full-time worker earning the real Living Wage will earn over £1500 per year compared to the UK governments national living wage.
The accreditation of MSIP follows the launch in 2019 of plans to make Dundee a Living Wage city, when an alliance of prominent employers in the city joined forces to promote the benefits of the real Living Wage to more employers. Starting from a baseline of 51 accredited employers, the Living Wage City effort has seen an increase in Dundee employers signing up for accreditation.
MSIP is the 77th Living Wage employer in Dundee and joins a local movement of accredited Living Wage employers including Dundee City Council, Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, Xplore Dundee, Abertay University, Thorntons Law, V&A Dundee, and DC Thomson.
Greig Coull, CEO, Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc said: “Since MSIP was established in 2019, the values of our core partners have helped to shape the culture of MSIP, and that includes the principles of fair work and being a real Living Wage Employer.
“As well as paying our direct and indirect staff at least the real living wage or higher, now and in the future, we also aspire to create an environment at our Innovation Parc where those that locate here will also pay the real Living Wage.
“Our goal is to create 850 jobs by 2028, and we hope that most if not all of those will earn the real Living Wage.”
Dundee City Council leader Councillor John Alexander said: “It’s great news that Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) has become an accredited real Living Wage Employer. This is a positive announcement and shows that real progress is being made at MSIP.
“These are incredibly difficult times for businesses and employees, and ensuring that employees are paid the Living Wage remains hugely important.
“We remain committed to achieving our ambition of making Dundee the first Living Wage City and this takes us a step closer.”
Jamie Hepburn, Scottish Government Minister for Business, Fair Work & Skills said: “The Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc will be a key asset in our drive to achieving our net-zero emissions target. I am always pleased to hear about newly accredited Living Wage employers, especially during Living Wage Week, and I congratulate Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc on achieving Living Wage Accreditation.
“It will now join more than 1,890 accredited employers who pay at least the real Living Wage to their workers, demonstrating their commitment to fair work practices.”
Lynn Anderson, Interim Manager at Living Wage Scotland said: “City-wide efforts to make the real Living Wage the expected norm in Dundee are strengthened when prominent employers demonstrate leadership and become Living Wage accredited.
We are delighted that MSIP, as a prominent employer based in Dundee have confirmed their Living Wage status for workers. Their accreditation is a significant contribution to Making Dundee a Living Wage City and to the broader Living Wage movement.”
Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance said: “The Living Wage accreditation of MSIP is a signal of their commitment to raise awareness of the importance of the real Living Wage, and to help set the standard for businesses in Dundee.
“Workers need a wage that meets their everyday needs, but too many workers in Dundee and across Scotland are locked into poverty.”
“I hope that more follow the lead of MSIP and join the growing movement of businesses and organisations that are going further to ensure workers and their families have what they need to thrive.”