The London living wage commitment ensures everyone working for the firm, whether staff or working for contractors, receives the minimum rate, which is significantly above the national minimum wage of £6.31.

The figure is also above the present labourers rate for building operatives in the industry’s national wage agreement, which stands at £8.27 an hour.

The new minimum rate will apply to apprentices almost doubling the accepted national agreement rate, after the firm became the first to be accredited as a London Living Wage employer.

Sir George Iacobescu, CEO of Canary Wharf Group said: “We’re proud to be taking the lead on this initiative in our industry. 

“The decision to pay a Living Wage underlines our appreciation of each and every member of staff and the communities around all our London developments from which many of our colleagues come.”

Rhys Moore, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “This brings the Living Wage to a new sector, and to some of the most iconic development sites in the capital, such as Canary Wharf, 20 Fenchurch Street in the City and Shell Centre on the Southbank.

“We anticipate that the leadership this commitment has shown will encourage others in the development and construction industry to consider how they reward the lowest paid members of their work force, and help tackle in-work poverty in the UK.

“The best employers are voluntarily signing up to pay the Living Wage now. The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day’s work with a fair day’s pay.”