Labour pledges pay rise for workers under ‘living wage’ plans

Almost half a million people in Scotland would get a pay rise under a Labour government, the party has claimed.

Under proposals to introduce a new £10 per hour real living wage, Scottish Labour estimates more than 130,000 workers aged between 18 and 24 who earned less than the living wage last year would benefit.

The party has also said that if elected, it would introduce a minimum income for students, free bus travel for the under 25s, ban zero-hours contracts and introduce a “Mary Barbour'' law to control rent costs.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “Too many young people are struggling to get on in life because of low pay.

“How can a young person pay their rent, never mind save for a deposit for a house, when they are getting paid less than the living wage? This needs to end, and Labour will take action in government.

“Labour will transform the workplace by creating a £10-an-hour minimum wage, ending exploitative zero-hours contracts and extending free bus travel to everyone aged under 25.

“Labour will put more money in people's pockets and bring real change to our economy so that it works for the many, not the few."