Should Edinburgh have a higher minimum wage?
Lothian MSP Miles Briggs intends to push forward with his campaign to see Edinburgh have higher rates of pay - due to the cost of living in the Capital
A Lothian MSP is keen to press ahead this year with proposals to see Edinburgh have a higher rate of pay in comparison to the rest of Scotland.
Miles Briggs wants to see workers, especially those employed by the council or health board, benefit from a special weighting system.
This would be similar to what is used in London, where minimum wages are higher.
Mr Briggs says this is due to the higher cost of living in Capital, when compared to other cities across the country.
He told Forth News: "We're seeing a cost of living crisis, but here in the Capital we're seeing levels of rent and also general costs at a much higher rate than the rest of Scotland.
"When you look at what London has done to develop both an inner and outer pay weighting and pay scale, that has helped lower paid, low income families to be able to live in these areas.
"But also has recognised that it is a more expensive part of England to live in, and I think we need to have that debate in Scotland over Edinburgh being the most expensive part of Scotland to live."
Deputy First Minister and Temporary cabinet Secretary for finance John Swinney agreed at the tail end of last year to meet with Briggs in 2023 to discuss the idea.
The Tory MSP believes a real focus needs to be on those working in the public sector, in order to make those jobs more attractive.
He said: "Both Edinburgh City Council and NHS Lothian receive the lowest level of funding from the Scottish Government.
"So being able to find solutions to pay people is also problematic for our council and health service here in Edinburgh, which do not have the flexibility or the resources from the Scottish Government to provide potentially an additional pay scale."
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