A Bristol-based not-for-profit organisation, Animal Welfare Investigations Project (AWIP), has been accredited as a Living Wage Employer. Their Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Animal Welfare Investigations Project receive a minimum hourly wage of £12, higher than the government minimum for over 21s, which currently stands at £11.44 per hour.
Animal Welfare Investigations Project is based in the South West, a region where over a tenth of all jobs (11.8%) pay less than the real Living Wage – around 285,000 jobs. Despite this, Animal Welfare Investigations Project has committed to pay the real Living Wage and deliver a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.
The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that wish to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum. Since it began, the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 360,000 people and put £3 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers.
Jacob Lloyd, Executive Director, Animal Welfare Investigations Project said: “We believe that every employee deserves to earn a wage that meets the real costs of living. This commitment not only enhances the wellbeing of our staff but also aligns with our core values of fairness and equity. By joining the Living Wage movement, we aim to set a positive example in the South West and beyond, demonstrating that ethical employment practices are essential for a sustainable and just society.”
Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said: “We’re delighted that Animal Welfare Investigations Project 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 Animal Welfare Investigations Project, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”
