LUSS Estates Company has received Living Wage accreditation after committing to paying its employees ‘a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work’.

The move will see all employees paid a minimum of £9.90 per hour – a rate which was announced as part of Living Wage Week in 2021.

This is higher than the current government minimum wage for over 23s, which stands at £9.50 per hour.

Simon Miller, Luss Estates CEO, said: “We have a talented and diverse workforce operating across hospitality, retail, green energy generation, carparks, fuel station, forestry, farming, landscape and property maintenance.

“Luss Estates is proud to recognise the value added to our operations by becoming accredited as a Living Wage employer.”

More than 14% of jobs in Scotland pay less than the real Living Wage, equating to around 330,000 positions.

The rate is the only UK wage calculated based on the cost of living and can be adopted by employers on a voluntary basis.

Peter Kelly, director of The Poverty Alliance, said: “We all need an income that is enough to cover our needs and protect us from poverty, and it’s only right that employers pay a wage that reflects the cost of living.

“Too many workers in Scotland are paid less than the real Living Wage and, at a time of rising costs, are struggling to stay afloat.

“The real Living Wage can offer protection from those rising costs.

“Congratulations to Luss Estates Company on their Living Wage commitment, and I hope more organisations follow their lead by becoming Living Wage accredited.”

Living Wage Scotland manager Gail Irvine added: “We’re delighted that Luss Estates Company has become an accredited Living Wage employer.

“They join a growing movement of over 2500 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need to thrive.”