Jim Murphy’s pay rise vow for half a million Scots
Marking Living Wage Week, Mr Murphy will set out a five point plan to make work pay for families in Scotland.
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Hide AdThe five point plan would: introduce legislation in government to ensure that firms awarded Scottish Government contracts pay their employees the Living Wage; work to promote the Living Wage within the private sector; give low paid workers the skills they need to move into higher paid employment; work with local councils to link low pay and low skills to business support and incentives such as rates relief and set up local Living Wage campaigns in each Scottish Parliamentary constituency.
Mr Murphy said: “If I am elected Scottish Labour leader I will campaign every day and in many ways to make sure hard working families in Scotland get the pay rise they deserve.
“I won’t wait until 2016. I will start immediately by bringing employers, trade unions and councils together to campaign for the Living Wage in every community in Scotland.
“Too many families in Scotland live in poverty even though they work every hour they can. To rely on food banks or pay day lenders just to get by whilst working full time is an outrage.
“There’s a moral case for introducing a Living Wage, which is that people deserve a decent wage for a decent day’s work.
“There’s also a strong business case for a Living Wage. The more people are paid and the more skills they develop, the more productive they will be. That’s good for businesses and good for our economy.
“As Labour First Minister I will lead an assault on low pay in Scotland, using the power of government to give Scotland a pay rise. Under my leadership I will make work pay for families in Scotland.”
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