Call for employers to pay a living wage

This week is Living Wage Week, and Wandsworth employees are urged to join the council in paying staff the London Living Wage.

Living Wage Week is the annual celebration of the Living Wage movement, and this year the campaign will recognise employers taking ‘A Step Beyond’ by becoming Living Wage accredited.

The campaign says 12.9 per cent of workers are paid below the Real Living Wage, with half of them saying they are financially worse off than a year ago.

Wandsworth is calling for employers to pay the London Living Wage – a higher amount that reflects the increased costs of living in the Capital. Last month this was increased to £13.85 an hour,

The London Living Wage is not set by the Government but was created by the charity Living Wage Foundation. Employers that commit to paying it can sign up for accreditation, with many reporting a boost in turnover, reputation, staff retention and morale.

The council is accredited with the Living Wage Foundation and pays all directly-employed staff the London Living Wage as a minimum. It has also committed to a three-year transition to ensure contracted staff also receive the London Living Wage by April 2026.

Contracted staff include workers that keep the borough’s streets, housing estates and parks clean as well as those serving children food in local schools.

Simon Hogg, Leader of Wandsworth Council said: “We want our staff to know we value them, and paying them a decent living wage is part of our commitment to a fairer, more compassionate borough. Now we are calling on all employers in Wandsworth to do the same.”

Find out more about Living Wage Week and how to become accredited.

Find out about support from Wandsworth Council for your business.