The chief executive of blindness charity RNIB has announced that the charity is now a living wage employer.

The charity’s chief executive, Lesley-Anne Alexander, tweeted yesterday: “Spent today with RNIB staff reps talking about pay and reward. We are now a 'living wage' employer and that feels right!”

Last week Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, encouraged charities to become living wage employers following a report by the Living Wage Commission, of which he is a member, that warned that the economic recovery could fail one in five people in paid employment.

Etherington said that there was a clear “moral, economic and business case for increasing the wage”.

He went on to say: “I know times are tough for many charities, but we are making good progress, with over 200 accredited living wage employers in our sector. Wherever possible, I would encourage charities to consider becoming living wage employers.

“One of the drivers of low pay in the voluntary sector is the terms and fees for public service contracts. NCVO has called for contracts that enable providers to pay their staff the living wage.”

Alexander told Civil Society News: "We are proud to say that all RNIB staff are paid at or above the Living Wage and London Living Wage. This was an important step for RNIB and we believe it is the right decision for us as an employer."