MUSLIM AID CELEBRATES COMMITMENT TO REAL LIVING WAGE

Leading UK Charity, Muslim Aid has been accredited as a Living Wage Employer. This Living Wage commitment ensures that all UK employees at Muslim Aid will receive at least a minimum hourly wage of £13.15 (£23,933 per annum based on a 35-hour week), significantly higher than the current government minimum wage of £11.44 for those over 21.

The UK charity has its head office in London, so the majority of its UK staff are based in the capital, a region where 13.3% of all jobs (approximately 574,000) pay less than the real Living Wage. Muslim Aid's commitment to the Living Wage ensures every employee in the UK earns at least £13.15 per hour, which is the London Living Wage significantly higher than the national minimum wage and the Real Living Wage in the rest of the UK which is £12 per hour. This initiative is part of a strategy to enhance employee satisfaction and retention, demonstrating Muslim Aid’s commitment to social justice.

Zakya Hussain, Head of People & Culture and Services at Muslim Aid, commented, “Paying the Real Living Wage is a commitment to existing and future employees that working for us means that they’re part of an organisation that lives by its values and treats people well, ensuring they will earn a good living for themselves and their families as well as doing good for others in society. It’s part of several other initiatives Muslim Aid has in place to enhance work-life balance, including extra paid days off on the two Muslim festivals of Eid every year, paid pilgrimage leave, hybrid working, flexible working hours, remote work options, and mental health support training. The organisation also offers professional development training to help employees advance their careers, alongside wellness workshops that focus on stress management and health.”

The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to the cost of living. It serves as a voluntary benchmark for employers who wish to ensure that their staff earn a wage sufficient for a decent standard of living, rather than the government minimum. Since 2011, the Living Wage movement has delivered pay raises to over 460,000 individuals and has contributed an additional £3 billion to the earnings of low-paid workers.

Khalid Javid, CEO of Muslim Aid, added, "At Muslim Aid, we believe that dignity and respect should be the foundation of our employment practices. Committing to the Living Wage is more than a policy, it's a reflection of our values and our dedication to our team.”

Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said: “We’re delighted that Muslim Aid has joined the movement of over 14,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on. “They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like Muslim Aid, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay."

About the Living Wage

The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to what people need to make ends meet. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that choose to take a standby ensuring their staff earn a wage that meets the costs and pressures they face in their everyday lives.

The UK Living Wage is currently £12 per hour. There is a separate London Living Wage rate of £13.15 per hour to reflect the higher costs of transport, childcare and housing in the capital. These figures are calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in London and the UK.

The Living Wage Foundation is the organisation at the heart of the movement of businesses, organisations and individuals who campaign for the simple idea that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. The Living Wage Foundation receives guidance and advice from the Living Wage Advisory Council. The Foundation is supported by our principal partners: Aviva; IKEA; Joseph Rowntree Foundation; KPMG; Linklaters; Nationwide; Nestle; Resolution Foundation; Oxfam; Trust for London; People’s Health Trust; and Queen Mary University of London.

What about the Government’s national living wage?

In July 2015 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the UK Government would introduce a compulsory ‘National Living Wage’, this was introduced in April 2016 and applied to all workers over the age of 25.

From 1st April 2024, workers aged 21 and over will be entitled to the National Living Wage which is £11.44 an hour. The Government's rate is different to the Living Wage rates calculated by the Living Wage Foundation. The ‘National Living Wage’ is a legal minimum and is based on percentage of average earnings, whereas the Living Wage Foundation’s real Living Wage rates are voluntarily paid by employers. Our rates are independently calculated, updated annually according to the cost of living and apply to anyone aged 18 and over. The ‘National Living Wage’ also does not have a separate rate which accounts for higher living costs in the capital. Workers on a London Living Wage earn an extra £3,334.50 a year more than a worker paid the ‘National Living Wage’.

For more about the difference and how we calculate our rate see our website.