Dumbarton Constituency MSP, Jackie Baillie, has called the Scottish Government’s target on the Living Wage timid as analysis reveals that their plan only looks to lift 5 per cent of Scottish people out of poverty pay.

The SNP Government has set a target of an additional 25,000 people paid the real living wage over the next three years, but research by the resolution foundation suggests that 480,000 people are paid less than the real living wage in Scotland.

The analysis also shows that 150,000, almost 20%, of workers in the Glasgow City Region, which includes West Dunbartonshire, are paid less than the real living wage and that the majority of workers who are poorly paid are in the 16-20 age group.

Scottish Labour has called on the government to be much more radical on their fair work agenda by not handing out public money to any company that fails to pay the real living wage.

Jackie said:

“This government is being timid in the fight to end poverty pay. While an additional 25,000 people being paid the real living wage is welcome, that only represents 5% of those who are currently paid below this level in Scotland.

“We need to see much bolder action on the fight to end low pay at work from this government.

“It is crucial that this SNP government use their powers, including through public procurement, to drive up employment standards and working practices on public contracts.

“A Scottish Labour government would not invest in companies which operate exploitative employment contracts below the real living wage or who use zero hours contracts.”