Faccenda Foods has boosted workers pay to at least £7 an hour in what a spokesman for the company called – an important first step – towards paying staff a Living Wage.
The decision will cost the firm an extra £125,000 this year, the poultry manufacturer confirmed.
The Living Wage Foundation (LWF) campaign, which manufacturing giant Nestle has committed to the in the UK, is pressing employers to pay not just minimum wage but a wage reflecting realistic living costs.
Referring to todays commitment in relation to the Living Wage, Faccenda said: We see this as an important first step. We are in this position because we have always for many years seen fair pay as an important component of our employee proposition. Over 70% of our workforce are already above this rate and this will increase above 80% this year (including guaranteed payments, ie shift or environmental allowance) and we have been in communication with the LWF about what pay components could be included in a Living Wage.
The pay decision would also enable Faccenda to remain a destination employer in fresh food, adding that it is also important for their attraction strategy for local employment, particularly in Telford where Faccendas advanced processing facility will be fully operations by early 2015.
HR and Communications Director Andrew Brodie added: Only 5% of employees at Faccenda are paid £7 per hour as a basic rate and the majority of these will move on to higher rates in three to six months. Fair pay is fundamental to Faccenda Foods commitment to providing a great experience to our customer. Only a highly skilled, motivated workforce that takes responsibility for the food they produce can provide the consumer with innovative, high quality, fresh and convenience food every day.
The GMB trade union endorsed Faccendas move, saying: Its great to see a major food manufacturing business taking this stance and it is one of the reasons we have had such a strong working relationship with Faccenda for many years.
LWF claims a fair Living Wage would be £7.56 an hour outside of London or £8.80 in London. The National Minimum Wage is currently set at £6.31
Faccenda employs 3,000 people and boasts a turnover of more than £400M