EVERYONE working for Clackmannanshire Council and its suppliers is to receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.90 within six months' time.

The commitment comes as the local authority has been confirmed as an accredited Living Wage employer, joining more than a dozen other businesses and organisations in the Wee County.

It means that every employee working for the council, as well as regular workers employed through third party suppliers, will receive the Living Wage of £9.90 per hour by May 2022.

The announcement follows Living Wage Week, which was held earlier between November 15 and 19, and will see staff earn more than the minimum wage of £8.91 per hour for over 23s.

Welcoming the move was council leader Ellen Forson.

She said: “We are delighted that we are now an official Living Wage employer.

“This links into our community wealth building agenda and reinforces our commitment as a council to reducing poverty and inequality for our employees."

Indeed, and as previously highlighted, there is continued national interest in community wealth building activities in the Wee County with plans to create a fairer economy in the area.

The local authority has been working with the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) on the matter with an action plan agreed last year.

Recommendations set out by CLES encourage supplier development and more spending by the council within its borders, with bespoke community benefits in turn.

Another recommendation is for Clackmannanshire Credit Union to become a “financial anchor”, with the council helping it to grow and develop.

CLES set out a range of other recommendations, 21 altogether, with one focusing on encouraging women into business.

One of the largest employers in the area, the council has joined more than a dozen organisations in Clacks, such as Scottish Autism and Ochil View Housing Association, as a Living Wage employer.

Lynn Anderson, manager at Living Wage Scotland, said: “Congratulations to Clackmannanshire Council on becoming an accredited Living Wage employer.

“Local authorities are not only large employers with significant spending power, but also have an important leadership role in the growth of the Living Wage employer movement.

“When major anchor institutions like local authorities become Living Wage accredited, this can encourage other employers to join and can result in extra spending to stimulate the local economy.

“We hope to see many more employers following their example, to help create a more just labour market in Clackmannanshire and across Scotland.”

The Living Wage rate has increased this year, largely driven by sharp rises in fuel and rent costs.

It is different to the minimum wage set by government, calculated independently based on living costs.