Methodist Council gains living wage accreditation

Religious governing body The Methodist Council has beenaccredited as a living wage employer by the Living WageFoundation.

The council has committed to paying all of its 220 staff,whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors, atleast the voluntary living wage rate.

The living wage is an independently set hourly rate of pay thatis calculated according to the basic cost of living. It is paid byemployers on a voluntary basis, and is updated annually. Thecurrent living wage for employees working across the UK is£8.45 an hour. The higher London living wage rate of £9.75 an houris reflective of the increased living costs of being based in thecapital.

The voluntary living wage is separate from the statutorynational living wage, which is paid to employees aged 25 and over.The national living wage rate is currently set at £7.50 anhour.

Nick Moore, head of support services at the Methodist Church,said: "Social justice is part of the Methodist tradition. Webelieve in 'a fair day's pay for a fair day's work'. Working hardfull-time should earn a person enough to live free of poverty.

"Today in the UK there is a legal minimum wage, but despitethis, over a third of children in poverty live in households whereadults are in full-time paid work. This is why The MethodistCouncil has chosen to become a living wage accredited employer. Asthe living wage is independently calculated eachyear based on what employees and their families need to live,we want to make sure all of our employees are paid at this rate asa minimum."