The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today announced an increase in the London Living Wage, which has increased from £9.40 to £9.75 per hour. He also revealed that another 309 employers signed up to pay their staff the capital’s hourly rate over the last 12 months. That brings the total number of accredited businesses in London to 1,033 and means that London accounts for over one third of businesses paying the Living Wage in the United Kingdom.

Since 2011 the London Living Wage has increased by 17.5 per cent and more than 60,000 workers in the capital have benefited from the increase. Over the last year major brands including the British Library, IKEA, Majestic Wine, Lloyds TSB and London’s Borough Market have all become accredited as London Living Wage employers.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced the new rate for the London Living Wage at the British Library, a newly accredited London Living Wage employer. He said: “It’s great news that London is leading the way in paying the Living Wage and that over 1,000 businesses are now accredited and helping to make this a fairer and more equal city. I’m glad to say we’re well on track to see it rise to over £10 an hour during my mayoralty, but we need to go further and for many more businesses and organisations to sign up.

“Our economy continues to grow and for the first time in London’s history we now have over one million businesses based here. It’s essential that hard-working Londoners, who keep this city going, are rewarded for their integral role in this success.

“Paying the London Living Wage is not just the right and moral thing to do, it makes good business sense too. As many employers already accredited know, the benefits are clear – including increased productivity and reduced staff turnover.

“The London Living Wage is a fantastic campaign and I will be working to encourage more businesses across our great city to get involved. This will not only help London become a city where it’s a badge of pride for employers to pay the London Living Wage, but help us become a city where everyone benefits from the capital’s success.”

HR director for Gavin Jones Ltd, Yvette Etcell said: “Central London is a significant stronghold in terms of landscape management for Gavin Jones Ltd. Most, if not all, of our City-based clients support payment of the LLW to our employees on their contracts – as such any increases to be paid are taken account of in our annual negotiations when agreeing the subsequent year’s contract sum.”

“Traditionally the Mayors of London have been strong champions of the London Living Wage and it is fantastic that Sadiq Khan is continuing to help make London a Living Wage city”

Earlier this month, after discovering that subcontractors hired under the former Mayor were paid less than London Living Wage, the Mayor tasked his Deputy Mayors with ensuring that all staff working at City Hall and mayoral bodies are paid the London Living Wage, and increased the pay of TfL subcontractors hired under the former Mayor and paid less than the Living Wage. He is also working with local authorities and encouraging them to follow the excellent example set by the London Boroughs of Brent, Ealing and Greenwich who have increased accreditations by offering discounts in business rates to Living Wage employers.