According to the research of an accountancy firm, KPMG, one of five workers are paid less than their living wages, which equates to almost 5m people. Among these, Bar and restaurants, catering and retail staff most affected. KPMG confirmed, in a tough environment of increasing costs of living, the effect is falling hardest on those low-paid workers. More than four in ten say their finance are worse than a month ago. The living wage is a voluntary rate that some employers, which includes KPMG has agree to pay staff, which designed to enable workers to afford a basic standard of living. The rate is £8.30 an hour in London and £7.20 outside.

Living Wage Campaign Help More Than 10,000 Workers

That compares with national minimum wage of £6.19 an hour. The study which commission from research company Markit, has found that since 2001, the living wage campaign had assist more than 10,000 employees and redistributed more than £96m to them. Northern Ireland had the broadest proportion of group, who earn below than the living wage at 24 percent, followed by Wales at 23 percent. The lowest rate was in London and the southeast, both at 16 percent. Bar staff, at 90 percent and waiting staff at 85 percent, were the most likely to be paid less than the living wages. Number of the workers the most affected were sales and retail assistants.

One In Five Paid Less Than Living Wages

Marianne Fallon, KPMG head of corporate affairs, confirmed that we have found that the improved motivation and performance, and the lower leaver and absentee rate among staff in receipt of a living wage, which mean that the cost is offset. Some 38 percent of respondents below than the living wage confirmed that they have poorer cash availability now than a month ago. It compares with 27 percent of those earning above, which indicates that the recovery is falling to benefit those most in need.