BIRCHWOOD based A-Plant has announced it has become an accredited Real Living Wage employer – leading to salary increases for more 700 employees.

Based on the cost of living, the wage is a voluntarily paid minimum hourly rate of pay, which is significantly higher than the government’s minimum wage.

A-Plant has become the first major equipment rental company to adopt the Real Living Wage.

Sat Dhaiwal, chief executive officer, said, “We value our colleagues and we truly believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.

“We are delighted to be leading the equipment rental industry by voluntarily paying a Real Living Wage based on the cost of living.

“We feel it is extremely important to take care of our colleagues and in recent months and years, we have made great strides forward in our aim to become the employer of choice in our sector.

We will be also be working with our suppliers to see how they can make a stand.”

Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said, “We are delighted to welcome A-Plant to the growing movement of accredited Living Wage employers who are voluntarily going further than the statutory minimums to ensure their employees can earn a wage, which is enough to live on.

“Living Wage employers report a more motivated and productive workforce; paying the Real Living Wage is both good for business and good for society. As the first major equipment rental company to accredit as a Living Wage employer A-Plant is showing great leadership in the sector, and we hope their commitment will encourage other great businesses and organisations to go above and beyond the government minimum.”