Hundreds of workers are to get a pay boost.

Final details have been signed off giving the go-ahead for the living wage for low-paid council workers.

Some 2,100 employees – about 25% of Kirklees Council’s workforce – will benefit from a minimum hourly rate of £7.88 per hour.

It was approved at its last committee stage this week.

But Kirklees says it does not mean any future rise of the living wage, advised by an independent body, will mean a rise for council staff with local budgets and circumstances taken into consideration.

Clr David Sheard, Kirklees leader, said: “Everyone deserves a fair wage which is enough to live on and reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day’s work with a fair day’s pay.

“It also means that this extra money will be filtering down to those who are in greater need and who will feel the greater benefit.

“It will be spent locally to boost our economy, supporting business and helping us to keep Kirklees a thriving district in which to live, work and invest.

“This is not only going to benefit our own employees, but by setting an example and encouraging other local organisations to do the same we will hopefully help a lot more people in Kirklees take a step out of poverty.”

A living wage is based on the amount of hourly pay a worker needs to earn to cover the basic costs of living, thereby helping working families to avoid living in poverty.

Around 50% of the workers who will see a wage rise are cleaners and 25% work ion catering.

A further 200 workers who are technically employees of the council but are school staff are employed on a grade lower than £7.88 per hour. Their wages come out of school budgets, so Kirklees has further negotiations with schools.