Low-paid staff to net wages boost

HUNDREDS of Oldham Council’s lowest-paid staff are to get a wage boost as the council implements the national living wage this month.

The £7.86 minimum hourly rate will mean 540 full-time employees, the majority in cleaning and catering jobs, get a pay rise of more than £800 a year.

Unlike the national minimum wage, the living wage is an informal benchmark that aims to ensure every worker earns enough to provide family essentials.

Carolyn Wilkins, chief executive of Oldham Council, said: “This fulfils a long-standing commitment by the council. These staff, most of whom are local residents, play an important daily role in delivering our services.

“They deserve the respect of being paid a fair wage for that contribution and this will also benefit the local economy. Our ambition is for Oldham to have thriving businesses and committed staff which is why — alongside our Get Oldham Working campaign — we’re also actively continuing to encourage other local firms to support the living wage and other fairness measures.”