South Hams councillors have backed the principal of paying their workers a living wage.

The council has agreed to support the aims and objectives of the Living Wage Foundation which is committed to seeing people paid what it calls a 'living wage based on the amount an individual needs to earn to cover the basic costs of living'.

Last week the district council admitted it has found it has two employees who may not come under that definition.

The council has now voted virtually unanimously to investigate becoming a Living Wage Employer.

Liberal Democrat Keith Baldry told the council: 'We are a public sector organisation and it is very important to be seen to be morally good employers.'

The Living Wage Foundation's calculations for what is a living wage varies in different parts of the country and is an 'informal benchmark' and not a legally enforceable minimum level of pay like the national minimum wage.

But it has already received widespread political support including Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Milliband.

In the South Hams it could make a difference of £40 a week extra to workers on the legal minimum wage.

Mr Baldry and Green Party councillor Alan Gorman proposed the motion backing the living wage principle and pledging the council to join other 'public sector bodies to become a Living Wage employer, which is a recognised sign of good practice in employment'.

Mr Gorman said agreeing to the motion would be more a 'symbolic gesture' than a call for action.

But he added: 'It is worth considering the cost to society if we do not implement a Living Wage.'

South Hams Council executive councillor with responsibility for corporate services, Mike Saltern said that in organisations where the Living Wage had been implemented employers found an increased in 'work quality.'

He said that that the number of South Hams Council employees paid below the Living Wage figures was in 'single figures' and later said it actually amounted to just two.

'Implementing the Living Wage is felt to be good for society as it reduces the causes of poverty,' he said.

Only one district council expressed reservations.

Salcombe and Malborough Conservative councillor Paul Coulson said he was 'all for empty and symbolic gestures' and added: 'We are a public sector organisation being generous with ratepayers money – please remember that.'