North East Valley Normal School has become the first school in the South Island to become an accredited living wage employer.
And now the Dunedin primary school is challenging others around the country to do the same.
At present, the living wage is set at $22.10 an hour and aims to provide workers and their families with the basic necessities of life.
Board of trustees member John Howell said North East Valley Normal School had already committed to paying all its directly employed staff at least the living wage, including cleaners and caretakers.
"By becoming a living wage accredited employer, the school expands on this principle to ensure that all indirectly paid workers contracted to be on site are paid
at least the living wage as
well."
So if the school contracted a company to provide a service, it would negotiate with the company to pay its workers the living wage.
"The North East Valley Normal board and management team believe every worker counts.
"There shouldn’t be two tiers of people working in and around our school.
"All are equally deserving of at least a living wage, regardless of who may employ them."
Mr Howell said the school had sent out "a friendly challenge" to other schools and local employers in general, to do the same.
"Let’s see if we can roll this out across the region and put Otepoti on the map as the first living wage city.
"That would really be something to be proud of."
The New Zealand living wage hourly rate for 2021-22 will rise to $22.75 on September 1, and the school will adjust its wages to match.
Living Wage Movement Aotearoa New Zealand brings together community/secular, union and faith-based groups to campaign for a living wage, and has an accreditation system for employers who meet the criteria to become a Living Wage Employer.
The trademark cannot be used unless a licence has been signed committing the business to paying no less than the living wage to directly employed and contracted workers delivering services on a regular and ongoing basis.
Other accredited living wage employers in Otago are Anderson Lloyd, the Dunedin City Council, Otago Chocolate Company, Queenstown Airport Corporation and Revology Ltd.
