News / Hotel praised at Holyrood
A HIGHLANDS and Islands MSP has lodged a Holyrood motion congratulating Scalloway Hotel on becoming the first living wage hotel in Scotland.
Independent MSP John Finnie welcomed last week’s news of the official accreditation of Scalloway Hotel by the Living Wage Foundation as an important step towards a more ethical hospitality industry – not one typically known for paying well.
The living wage is set independently and updated annually to reflect the basic cost of living in the UK. It currently stands at £8.25 – significantly higher than what Finnie described as the “measly” minimum wage of £6.70.
He said a study conducted into the impact of the living wage demonstrated considerable benefits for employers and employees alike. Over 80 per cent of employers and 75 per cent of employees report an increase in work quality as a result of the change, he pointed out.
“I am delighted that the owners of the Scalloway Hotel are leading the way in the hotel industry by becoming a living wage employer,” Finnie said.
“Making sure that employees can afford to live comfortably without fear that they will not be able to afford food, bills, rent and other essentials is a critical part of the fight to end the scourge of poverty in Scotland.”
Scalloway Hotel co-owner Caroline Mackenzie said last week that they were “extremely proud” to be the first living wage hotel in Scotland and “we hope others, including the big hotel groups, will follow suit”.
Finnie said he was “immensely proud” to have become a living wage employer himself last October.
“Paying decent wages is a smart decision for all employers,” he continued. “I’m thrilled that Scalloway Hotel have chosen to set such a wonderful example to employers across the country – in particular those in the hospitality industry – and I very much hope that others are quick to follow suit.”
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