Summary
Vale of White Horse District Council in Oxfordshire has paused its efforts to become an accredited real living wage employer. The council decided to wait because evaluating and reaching agreements with contractors to pay the real living wage is demanding in terms of time and resources, especially as local government reorganisation is planned in the area.
Key Facts
- Vale of White Horse District Council stopped its effort to become an accredited real living wage employer.
- A real living wage is £12.60 per hour outside London, more than the national minimum wage of £12.20.
- More than 16,000 employers are already accredited as paying the real living wage.
- The council said contacting contractors to agree to the higher wage is time-consuming and requires a lot of work.
- Local government in Oxfordshire will be reorganised by 2028, changing the structure of councils.
- Green councillors proposed the move to pay the real living wage in 2023.
- The reorganisation means councils like Vale of White Horse will no longer exist, affecting decision-making on future wage policies.
