Sinn Fein Cllr Paul Fleming.
Derry City Council has been called on to adopt a “living wage” to ensure its lowest-paid workers can enjoy a better quality of life.
The call comes from Sinn Fein Cllr Paul Fleming who was speaking after tabling a motion which will be debated at the next meeting of Derry City Council calling for a a living wage to be introduced.
Cllr Fleming said people deserved to be paid a decent wage and introducing the “living wage” would ensure the lowest-paid workers would enjoy a better quality of life.
Cllr Fleming added: “The minimum wage is £6.31 for people aged over 21 years-old and while it is very important that it is in place, it is a very basic salary which many people find hard to live on.
“We need to ensure that people get proper rewards for their work and the living wage of £7.65 would help lift people out of the working poor bracket.
“Not only would a living wage provide a better quality if life for low-paid workers, it would also boost the local economy.”
He added paying workers a living wage would mean workers would have more money to spend in local businesses.
Cllr Fleming added: “A number of major international companies have already introduced the living wage for employees which sends a very clear message to the scaremongering from some in the business community who claim it is unaffordable.”
He concluded: “Providing workers with a living wage would also help prevent the emergence of a two-tier economy which punishes those on benefits and low pay.”
