Over 30,000 low-paid workers in London set for pay rise

More than 30,000 low-paid workers in the British capital are set for a pay rise of up to 400 pounds a year after an increase in the living wage.
The voluntary rate will increase by 20 pennies an hour to 7.65 outside London. It is higher than the legal minimum wage, which stands at 6.31 an hour for over-21s.
The London living wage rate is increasing from 8.55 an hour to 8.80.
A total of 432 employers are now signed up to the campaign, up from 78 this time last year, including Legal & General, KPMG, Barclays, Oxfam, Pearson, the National Portrait Gallery and First Transpennine Express, as well as many smaller businesses, charities and town halls.

Together they employ more than 250,000 workers and commit to roll out the living wage in their supply chain.
The living wage is independently set each year according to the basic cost of living in Britain. It is updated annually and employers choose to pay the rate voluntarily.

Campaigners are urging firms to pay the living wage rate to help workers cope with rising household bills like soaring energy costs.
The capital's living wage rate figure was announced by London Mayor Boris Johnson during an event at Great Ormond Street Hospital, one of the latest organisations to sign up to the campaign.

Johnson said he backed the living wage because it was "pure economic common sense". He said, "I don't think it will succeed if it is compulsory but this is growing every year. It is the right thing for our city and our people.