Refugee Roots celebrates 1 year of commitment to the Real Living Wage

Refugee Roots celebrates 1 year commitment to the real Living Wage

Refugee Roots has been accredited as a Living Wage Employer since April 2023. Their Living Wage commitment means everyone working at Refugee Roots receives a minimum hourly wage of £12 in the UK, higher than the government minimum for over 21s, which currently stands at £11.44 per hour.

Refugee Roots is based in the East Midlands, a region where over 15.7% of workers earn less than they need to get by, with over 299,000 jobs paying less than the real Living Wage. Despite this, Refugee Roots has committed to pay the real Living Wage and deliver a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.

The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that wish to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum. Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 460,000 people and put £3 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers.

“Refugee Roots has always valued paying staff appropriately, it was a no-brainer to join the Real Living Wage, and it was easy to do so we did! We will wear the badge with pride!" Adam Baker, Charity Director

Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said: “We’re delighted that Refugee Roots has joined the movement of over 14,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.

“They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like Refugee Roots, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay."

Media Contact

Adam Baker, [email protected]

The Living Wage Foundation is the organisation at the heart of the movement of businesses, organisations and individuals who campaign for the simple idea that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. The Living Wage Foundation receives guidance and advice from the Living Wage Advisory Council. The Foundation is supported by their principal partners: Aviva; IKEA; Joseph Rowntree Foundation; KPMG; Linklaters; Nationwide; Nestle; Resolution Foundation; Oxfam; Trust for London; People’s Health Trust; and Queen Mary University of London. For more about the real Living Wage and how the rate is calculated see their website.

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