Chelsea adopt living wage

11 December 2014 02:31

Chelsea have become the first Premier League club to adopt the living wage.

The Premier League leaders on Thursday announced they had been accredited by the Living Wage Foundation and, from January, will pay all directly employed members of staff the living wage as a minimum - currently £9.15 an hour in London or £7.85 an hour outside of the capital.

The national minimum wage is £6.50 an hour, but the living wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually, calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK.

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said on chelseafc.com: "As a responsible employer we are proud of this significant achievement for the club.

"We believe the move to the living wage underlines our commitment to ensuring that all our employees receive a fair rate of pay for their hard work and dedication. Quite simply it is the right thing to do."

League Two side Luton have also adopted the living wage.

Hatters chief executive Gary Sweet said on lutontown.co.uk: "Luton Town Football Club sits right at the heart of the community. Not only do we feel that we have a responsibility to our staff, to make sure that their level of pay affords them the ability to have a decent work-life balance but we also have a desire to attract more talented people when recruiting."

Scottish Championship side Hearts also pay the living wage.

Source: PA