Summary
The article discusses the call for more businesses in Cornwall to pay their employees the "real living wage" to help reduce in-work poverty. While some employers see it as a valuable investment, others, especially in tourism, worry about the financial challenges of implementing it.
Key Facts
- About 300 businesses in Cornwall currently pay the real living wage, employing around 15,000 people.
- The national living wage is legally set at £12.21 per hour.
- Campaigners argue that the real living wage should be £13.45 to cover basic living expenses.
- Truro Foodbank noted a decrease in aid requests as more employers adopted the real living wage.
- The real living wage helps businesses attract and retain employees by reducing recruitment and training costs.
- Paying higher wages poses challenges for some small businesses, especially in sectors affected by weather, like tourism.
- Employers might need to consider reducing staff or other trade-offs if they commit to the real living wage.
