Only Hearts currently pay living wage out of 12 SPL football clubs
An MSP is campaigning to get all Scottish professional football clubs to pay the living wage.
Out of 12 Scottish Premier League clubs only Hearts are an accredited living wage employer.
James Dornan, Cathcart SNP MSP, has urged the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to encourage all clubs to follow the club’s example.
He has sent a letter to the SFA urging it wields its influence and makes all clubs pay the wage.
The living wage is currently set at £8.25, higher than the National Minimum wage of £6.70 an hour.
Hearts owner Anne Budge said when Hearts too the decision in October 2014 it was in keeping with the values of the club.
However Celtic rejected a call from a group of shareholders to become an accredited living wage employer, stating it would look to increase the pay of permanent staff but would not allow a third party other than the government to dictate its pay policy.
But Dornan said football clubs should set an example like they have done with social issues like highlighting anti-bigotry and prejudice campaigns.
Everyone employed in Scottish football, from star strikers to the cleaners and box office staff, deserve to be paid a fair wage.
In a letter to SFA chief executive Neil Doncaster,the MSP states: “Payment of the living wage makes sense for any business.
“Football clubs, however, have a particular duty to their supporters and communities to be good employers and role models for other organisations.
“Scottish football clubs have always led by example on a huge range of issues.
“Everyone employed in Scottish football, from star strikers to the cleaners and box office staff, deserve to be paid a fair wage.”
The Scottish Living Wage Accreditation scheme is run by the Poverty Alliance which has signed up almost 500 to the commitment.
Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “With over half of children in poverty in Scotland living in households where someone works, paying the living wage has never been more important.
“It is disappointing that so many football clubs are currently not accredited living wage employers.
“It is important that everyone who contributes to the match day experience is paid a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.”
