The operators of West Ham United’s London Stadium have agreed to pay staff at the facility the minimum London Living Wage after coming under criticism for their use of cheap labour, reports The Telegraph.
Employee’s at the venue will now receive £9.25 an hour, a figure independently calculated following an investigation into the use of exploited labour at Premier League grounds across the country.
The pay rise will come into effect for all full time staff immediately, while part-timers and those on zero hour contracts may have to wait a number of weeks for the change to come into effect.
West Ham, who rent the facility for a mere £2.5 million a year, are not responsible for the running of their home ground, and insist all those directly employed by the club are already recieving the London Living Wage.
The £750,000 annual increase in cost is expected to be met by taxpayers, unless the stadium operators or the West Ham owners are able to absorb some of the bill.
Once the change comes into full effect, the Hammers will be only the third club in England’s top flight to be accredited as as a Living Wage Employer, following both Chelsea and Everton.
