# Real Living Wage rise to boost pay for thousands of NI workers

Thousands of workers in Northern Ireland will see their pay increase as the Real Living Wage rate rises. The voluntary rate is set independently of the government's statutory minimum wage and is paid by employers who have signed up to the scheme. It matters because it lifts pay for low-earning staff, though it does not cover all workers in the region.

**Importance:** 2/5

## Sources

### Business
- [BBC Business](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cq398xnyx4gyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:37:44 GMT