Commercial legal services organisation Capital Law has been accredited as a living wage employer by the Living Wage Foundation and Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales.
The organisation, which is the 100th accredited living wage employer based in Wales, has committed to paying all of its 130 employees at least the voluntary living wage rate of £8.45 an hour for staff working in Cardiff, and £9.75 an hour for London-based employees. This will apply to both permanent employees and third-party contractors.
The living wage is an hourly rate of pay that is independently calculated according to the basic cost of living. It is updated annually and paid by employers on a voluntary basis. The living wage is currently set at £8.45 an hour for employees working across the UK. The London living wage rate is £9.75 an hour to reflect the higher costs of living in the capital.
The voluntary living wage is distinct from the statutory national living wage, which is paid to employees aged 25 and over. Currently, the national living wage rate is £7.50 an hour.
The Living Wage Foundation accredits living wage employers across the UK. Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales became the official living wage accreditation body for Wales in November 2016.
Paul Clayton, HR director at Capital Law, said: “We are thrilled to be announced as the 100th accredited living wage employer in Wales. We are very passionate about being a reasonable employer and have been working with our contractors to ensure everyone who works for Capital Law is being paid at least the living wage. We look forward to working with Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales to increase the number of living wage employers in Wales.”