Scottish Government becomes first Living Hours administration in UK

The Scottish Government is the first national administration in the UK to become a Living Hours employer.

It means all staff employed by the government are guaranteed a minimum 16 hours of work a week, paid at at least £12 per hour.

The announcement was made by economy secretary Neil Gray at the start of Living Wage Week.

He said: “This is a very welcome recognition of the Scottish Government’s commitment to and promotion of fair work principles. No one should be working in an insecure, unstable job and not be paid the real Living Wage.”

The Living Hours scheme aims to ensure employees have secure and stable work. It sits alongside the wider Living Wage programme and is voluntary. 

To be eligible, firms must offer at least 16 hours paid work a week (unless the employee requests less), and must also provide four weeks' notice for staff rotas. If shifts are cancelled within that four week period, staff must still receive pay as though they would have worked.

The Scottish Government has been a Living Wage employer since 2015.

More than 3,400 firms in Scotland are accredited as Living Wage employers, a status awarded by Living Wage Scotland.

Living Wage Scotland was established in 2014 and is funded by the Scottish Government.

The real Living Wage is set by the Living Wage Foundation each year, with the rate calculated by the Resolution Foundation.

At £12, it is £1.58 more per hour than the UK Government-set national living wage (for those age 23 and older) and £1.82 per hour more than the minimum wage.