An Abbotsford business was among nine employers in B.C. certified on July 2 as providing a “living wage” to their workers.
Mt. Lehman Credit Union is now the third certified living wage employer in the Valley, after Vancity and Mission Community Skills Centre.
Employers are certified by the Living Wage for Families Campaign when they pay all direct and third-party contracted staff a living wage.
The living wage is the amount a family of four, with two parents working full time, need to earn to meet their expenses. The figure in the Fraser Valley for 2015 has been calculated at $17.27 an hour.
Deanna Ogle, campaign organizer with the Living Wage for Families Campaign, said eight of the nine newly certified employers have fewer than 50 employees.
“This demonstrates the strong commitment and contribution of small businesses to the economic health of local communities,” she said.
There are now 46 certified living wage employers across B.C., covering more than 6,500 direct employees and countless contracted staff.
Local businesses interested in learning more about Living Wage and the certification process may contact Alison Homer at 604-751-4222 or alison@vibrantabbotsford.ca.