Lead the way and offer a fair day's pay

Employers across west Cheshire are being urged to make a stand against poverty by paying staff the Local Living Wage.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has launched a campaign to help make sure workers in the borough can earn a decent living.

Despite the affluent image of leafy Cheshire, almost a fifth of the borough's households have an annual income of £15,000 or less.

The Local Living Wage is about paying an hourly rate based on the real cost of living for employees and their families. This will rise from £8.25 to £8.45 in west Cheshire from 1 April, and is reviewed annually. The Council has paid all of its directly employed staff at least the Local Living Wage since April 2016.

Councillor Paul Donovan, Cabinet Member for Democracy and Workforce, said: "Increases in the cost of living mean that so many of our families are struggling with the basics – with putting food on the table or heating their homes.

"We want to make west Cheshire a Local Living Wage borough, where everyone can earn a decent living – but we need help from employers, both large and small.

"We're looking for employers who are willing to lead the way, sign up to our Cheshire West and Chester Local Living Wage Charter and pay all their staff at least the Local Living Wage.

"Employers signing up to the charter are signing up to reduce poverty, boost the local economy and make life better in west Cheshire.

Employers that pay a Local Living Wage also report lower absenteeism and staff turnover, higher productivity and improvements in the quality of work, greater motivation and morale and stronger recruitment.

The Local Living Wage rate is different from the National Living Wage of £7.20 per hour for people aged over 25, a mandatory rate set by government and formerly known as the minimum wage. Paying the Local Living Wage is voluntary.

For more information about the Local Living Wage or to sign the Council's charter as a Local Living Wage employer CLICK HERE