EMPLOYERS met in Glasgow to mark the 100th company to become an accredited Living Wage employer.

Firms from a range of sectors including education, law, cleaning, sport and catering met in the city at a reception hosted by the Poverty Alliance.

Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance said: "The Scottish Living Wage Accreditation Initiative has come a long way in a short space of time.

"One hundred accredited employers in Scotland is a significant milestone. We hope that more employers will follow their lead, together we can make positive progress in tackling in work poverty".

The Living Wage is set at £7.85 and is paid by the Scottish Government, which encourages its contractors to also pay the rate, but cannot set it as a condition of procurement.

The rate is higher than the National Minimum Wage, which at £6.50 has been criticised as not keeping up with the rising cost of living and resulting in many people subject to in-work poverty.

Annabelle Ewing, Minister for youth employment said: "The Scottish Government fully supports the Living Wage campaign and recognises the real difference the Living Wage makes to the working people of Scotland.

"To have 100 companies accredited in Scotland is a real sign of progress. I would encourage all employers across Scotland to take the lead from these organisations and pay their workers a Living Wage."