Leader on Carmarthenshire Living Wage mission
Carmarthenshire’s Leader is gathering information on the impact of the Living Wage and is awaiting the outcome of work on the issue.
Cllr Kevin Madge is keen to look at the introduction of the wage and wants to be in full possession of all the facts before the matter is discussed by the executive board.
He has already asked the council’s HR staff to provide information on the effects of bringing the Living Wage into Carmarthenshire, and is awaiting the outcome of the Welsh Local Government Association’s work on the issue.
Welsh Government Minister for Local Government and Communities Carl Sargeant has also set up a policy group to assess the implications of introducing the initiative, and of encouraging public sector bodies to become Living Wage employees.
It means that the lowest amount staff would be paid would be £7.20 per hour, higher than the current statutory £6.08 minimum wage for employees aged 21 and over.
Cllr Madge said: “I await with interest the outcome of all the work being undertaken in considering this issue. Clearly it will impact financially on public sector organisations and that will need to be studied in some detail, but it could also impact on benefits which lower paid employees are currently entitled to. With the benefits changes coming in next year, this will have to be considered carefully along with the other issues.
“I am a staunch supporter of helping those people who are less well off, however this is something which could have a great effect on a lot of people’s lives and is not something we should jump into before we are in full possession of all the facts.”
Cllr Kevin Madge is keen to look at the introduction of the wage and wants to be in full possession of all the facts before the matter is discussed by the executive board.
He has already asked the council’s HR staff to provide information on the effects of bringing the Living Wage into Carmarthenshire, and is awaiting the outcome of the Welsh Local Government Association’s work on the issue.
Welsh Government Minister for Local Government and Communities Carl Sargeant has also set up a policy group to assess the implications of introducing the initiative, and of encouraging public sector bodies to become Living Wage employees.
It means that the lowest amount staff would be paid would be £7.20 per hour, higher than the current statutory £6.08 minimum wage for employees aged 21 and over.
Cllr Madge said: “I await with interest the outcome of all the work being undertaken in considering this issue. Clearly it will impact financially on public sector organisations and that will need to be studied in some detail, but it could also impact on benefits which lower paid employees are currently entitled to. With the benefits changes coming in next year, this will have to be considered carefully along with the other issues.
“I am a staunch supporter of helping those people who are less well off, however this is something which could have a great effect on a lot of people’s lives and is not something we should jump into before we are in full possession of all the facts.”
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