Carl Sargeant, Minister for Local Government and Communities
It is the policy of the Welsh Government to support lower paid staff because we know that fair pay can not only help promote productivity and morale at work, but also support good health and family life. We are also concerned with addressing the ongoing challenges of in-work poverty.
In line with the manifesto, Welsh Government has achieved the UK Living Wage level of £7.20 per hour for every employee, other than apprentices, directly employed in the Welsh Government civil service and the NHS.
I will shortly convene a group of stakeholders with an interest in a living wage for Wales, including the CBI, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Wales TUC and Save the Children to explore how a living wage for Wales could secure our policy ambitions.