OREANDA-NEWS. SSE was featured in a BBC1 Scotland programme last night [May 18th] looking at which companies pay the Living Wage and which currently do not.

Called ‘Low Pay for Life’ the 30-minute investigation contrasted the different approaches among major companies based in Scotland to paying the Living Wage.

The programme explained that SSE is one of the biggest Living Wage employers in Scotland and interviewed some of those who had directly benefitted from the measure.

SSE’s Head of Sustainability Rachel McEwen explained why the company decided to introduce the Living Wage in 2013; and the presenter also interviewed Mairi Duthie, Retail Assistant in the SSE Forfar shop.

Rachel said: “We’re proud to be one of the largest Living Wage employers and SSE remains the only energy company to guarantee a Living Wage.  It’s been a challenge to bring about all the changes required but for us it’s been an important symbol of the type of company we are.

“It’s also great that the BBC programme interviewed Mairi from one of our Hydro shops – she’s a very eloquent advocate on the positive difference the Living Wage has made to her and her family. As we continue to implement the policy for contracted employees who work regularly on SSE sites, I look forward to more people earning a decent wage as a result of SSE’s policy.”

In September 2013 SSE became one of the biggest Living Wage employers in the UK, guaranteeing all staff an hourly rate above the national minimum wage which experts believe meets costs of housing, bills, food and work travel.

Last year SSE unveiled plans to extend the Living Wage to all contracted employees working at its sites. It is currently the only energy company paying its employees the Living Wage, and across its £2bn-a-year supply chain.

It meant that any contracted employee who works regularly on one of its sites is also paid at least the Living Wage.

The BBC1 Scotland programme notes explained: ‘Fiona Walker meets some of the Scots struggling to get by on low pay. The programme investigates who is and who isn't paying the living wage.’