SSE Becomes Living Wage Employer

SSE has announced it is to become a Living Wage employer.

From 1 January, 2016, all of the firm's employees will be guaranteed a Living Wage of at least €11.50 an hour.

Almost 750 staff across SSE's businesses in Ireland – including SSE Airtricity – will receive at least the Living Wage rate. The rate is designed to ensure that people can cover their basic cost of living including housing, bills, food and work travel.

Stephen Wheeler, SSE Airtricity Managing Director, said: "SSE is proud to become the first large corporate in Ireland to pay its employees the Living Wage. Today's announcement demonstrates that we value the people who work for SSE very highly and that we're willing to pay our people at a level which shows we mean it.

"It also shows that SSE is a company which is serious about making a difference. We believe it is a matter of basic fairness that people should be paid a wage which is enough to cover their living expenses.

"By becoming the first large Irish corporate to voluntarily introduce the Living Wage we are playing our part to help create an emerging Living Wage movement in Ireland. In providing this leadership we hope that other large Irish businesses that can afford to do so will join us and get behind the Living Wage movement here."

An Tánaiste Joan Burton TD welcomed the announcement, adding: "As we secure our economic recovery, we want to be sure that the jobs we have and the jobs we are helping to create are decent, sustainable jobs where workers earn enough money to look after themselves and their families.

"The Living Wage Campaign does precisely that and I am very pleased that SSE is now joining the growing number of employers here who believe that everyone of its staff should share in our hard won recovery."

Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash TD, also said: "SSE has been a huge supporter of our efforts to introduce a Living Wage Campaign here in Ireland. The company took part in the Forum on the Living Wage I held in Dublin Castle in September and I am delighted that it is showing its commitment to paying all of its staff a decent wage today."

Following SSE's decision to become a Living Wage employer, around 8% of its workforce will receive a wage increase from 1 January, 2016. The average wage increase will be €560 per annum, with individual increases ranging from €15 to almost €5,000.

(JP/LM)