All contracted cleaning and catering staff working at the Scottish Parliament will be guaranteed a living wage

The Scottish Parliament has been added to the growing list of employers signed up to pay the living wage.

In the same week energy firm SSE announced Scotland’s biggest ever living wage contract of £460 million, the parliament was given formal accreditation by The Living Wage Foundation.

While MSPs, on basic pay of £58,097, wont be affected by the change 26 parliamentary cleaning and catering workers employed through contractors will receive a boost to their pay packet.

It is expected that the new arrangements will be in place by 1 January 2015.

The initial cost of uprating salaries will be around £21,000 with annual readjustments likely to cost the parliament around an additional £7,000 per year.

Making the announcement, presiding officer Tricia Marwick MSP said: “I am delighted that – as an employer – the parliament has moved to ensure the living wage guarantee now extends to all staff who work directly at the parliament.

“The cost of meeting this commitment is relatively small in financial terms but is hugely symbolic to employees and employers alike.”

Peter Kelly, Director of The Poverty Alliance added: "We are delighted that the Scottish Parliament have joined the living wage employer movement by becoming an accredited living wage employer.

“The accreditation of such a symbolic employer demonstrates that the living wage is a well-regarded concept that has benefits for individuals, employers and wider society.

“We hope the leadership shown by the Scottish Parliament will encourage other employers to consider how they support staff who are on lower wages, and to move towards becoming living wage employers."