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<p>This Government is committed to paying people a decent living wage, which is being
addressed through the statutory National Living Wage (NLW). In April 2019, the NLW
increased to £8.21 per hour, handing a full-time worker a further £690 annual pay
rise. By 2024 the NLW will rise to £10.50 per hour, reaching 66% of median UK earnings.
The scope will be expanded to everyone aged 21 and over and is expected to benefit
over 4 million low paid workers.</p><p> </p><p>There are 85 staff in core-Defra, based
in the National pay region, paid less than the London Living Wage (LLW) rate of £10.55
per hour, as set out by the Living Wage Foundation (LWF).</p><p> </p><p>There are
less than 5 staff based in the London pay region paid less than the LLW. There will
be no staff based in the London pay region paid less than the LLW once the 2019 Defra
pay award (effective from 1 July 2019) has been implemented. This is expected to be
in November pay.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will always award contracts on the basis
of the best value for money for the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p>The service providers
contracted to carry out third party cleaning contracts for Defra managed buildings,
including those of our executive agencies, are provided through an outsourced Total
Facilities Management contract with Interserve FM. The contract requires Interserve
FM to pay all employees the living wage as defined by the LWF. The Facilities Management
supplier holds information on the rate of remuneration of its staff. Members of the
LWF pay the voluntary real living wage, which is higher than the statutory rate and
includes a higher rate for London based staff.</p><p> </p><p>The LWF rates (published
online) can be found on the link below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.livingwage.org.uk/"
target="_blank">https://www.livingwage.org.uk/</a></p>
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