I’ve pledged my support for the Living Wage Campaign.

Living Wage Week, taking place this week, shows backing for a real living wage that, contrary to the Government’s current national living wage, is actually based on what employees need to live on by taking into account the cost of living.

In Barnsley alone, 26.4 per cent of workers currently earn less than this real living wage, meaning 19,000 people are earning less than they need to get by.

In the wider Yorkshire and Humber region, around 546,000 employees are receiving less than the real living wage.

Every employee deserves to paid a good wage for a hard day’s work, but many people here in Barnsley are missing out.

People are working full-time jobs and their fingers to the bone, only to receive an income that doesn’t even cover the basic cost of living.

A real living wage is essential to make sure people across Barnsley are properly rewarded for their hard work, and I support the Living Wage Week campaign.

I’m calling on employers in our community to offer their employees a real wage that properly reflects how much people truly need to get by.