NORTH Ayrshire Council staff will receive the new real Living Wage rate six months early.

The 2024-25 Living Wage rates were announced on October 23, with employers given until May 1, 2025, to implement them.

However, the council has decided to pay the new rate from the date of the announcement.

The hourly pay rate is independently calculated by the Resolution Foundation and is paid voluntarily by employers.

It is based on what people in the UK need to earn for a decent standard of living.

The 2024-25 rate is £12.60 per hour, a 60p per hour increase on last year.

Council leader Marie Burns, chair of the Tackling Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board, said: "The cost-of-living crisis, sadly, isn’t going away, and many people in our communities are struggling to make ends meet.

"It is vital to us, as a local authority, that our staff have a decent standard of living. Paying the new rate of the real Living Wage – and paying it early – will make a difference.

"So, we are paying relevant staff the £12.60 rate with effect from the date of the announcement on October 23."

The announcement will have a positive impact on 764 council employees working in predominantly frontline roles.

North Ayrshire Council has been a real Living Wage employer since 2011 and continues to champion the real Living Wage cause.

There are 3,750 Living Wage-accredited businesses across Scotland, who will give almost 70,000 staff a pay rise.

Living Wage Week runs from November 4 to 10, and more information about the real Living Wage can be found at scottishlivingwage.org.