Research shows 90% of bar staff paid below living wage

The second highest proportion are waiting staff, with 85% of them being paid below the ‘living wage’, which is a voluntary rate of pay offered by some employers.

The rate is currently £8.30 an hour in London and £7.20 outside, with the national minimum wage at £6.19 an hour. The research is published ahead of Living Wage Week (4-10 November) when new rates for London and the rest of the country will be announced.

Rhys Moore, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “Paying a Living Wage makes a huge difference to the quality of life of thousands of cleaners, caterers and security staff across the country. It is really encouraging to see nearly 100 organisations now signed up and accredited.

"But that still leaves many more organisations that aren’t. We hope that Living Wage Week will create real momentum and that many more employers will sign up.”