Wage boost for low-paid NHS staff welcomed

This week’s announcement from Health Minister Mark Drakeford that the Welsh NHS is set to become a “living wage” employer has been applauded by Swansea AM Mike Hedges.  

This means that from September of this year, around 2,400 low-paid NHS employees, ranging from cleaners to porters, will be paid at least the “living wage” of £7.65 an hour – more than the current minimum wage rate of £6.31 an hour.  In some cases, this will see the low paid NHS staff get an increase in their basic salary of up to £470 per annum.

The living wage is an hourly rate of pay, updated annually and set independently by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University. The living wage is calculated on the amount an individual needs to earn to cover the basic costs of living.

Applauding the decision to make the Welsh NHS a living wage employer, Swansea East AM Mike Hedges said:

“There’s no mistake about this – we’re living in a cost of living crisis, and some of those who are suffering the most are people in work on low pay.

“Although the National Minimum Wage Act has been a force for good in helping people out of ‘in-work’ poverty, the current rate has struggled to keep up with inflation and the price of daily living, which is exactly why we need a national living wage.    

“The decision to make our Welsh NHS a living wage employer – which will see a small pay rise for low paid staff including cleaners, porters, and catering staff – is something I welcome and applaud. However, the battle over seeing the living wage supersede the minimum wage is not yet over and more work needs to be done.”