Hendon Town Hall in spring
Barnet Council has announced that it has formally become an accredited Real Living Wage Employer.
This accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation recognises the council’s long‑standing commitment to fair pay.
All council employees have been receiving at least the Real Living Wage for many years, and while this is an ongoing process, accreditation confirms that Barnet Council will ensure a minimum hourly rate of £14.80 for all directly employed staff and eligible contracted workers.
This is significantly above the government minimum wage for over‑21s, which currently stands at £12.21 per hour.
Barnet Council Leader, Cllr Barry Rawlings, said:
“Barnet Council has paid fair wages for a long time, but we are pleased to now be officially accredited as a Real Living Wage Employer.
“This recognition reflects our belief that everyone deserves a wage that properly supports their wellbeing and meets the true cost of living.
“We are committed to ensuring our staff and contractors are valued, supported and paid fairly.”
Barnet Council encourages local employers across the borough to consider accreditation and join the movement working to ensure fair pay for all.
Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said:
“We’re delighted that Barnet Council has joined the movement of over 16,000 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 Barnet Council, believe that everyone needs to be able to live with dignity and have a decent standard of living."
The Real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate independently calculated according to living costs, reviewed annually to reflect essentials such as food, rent and transport.
More than 16,000 accredited employers have contributed to securing over £4.2 billion in pay rises for lower‑paid workers since 2011, improving millions of lives across the UK.