A Living Wage

A living wage is one that enables workers and their dependents to meet their needs for nutritious food and clean water, shelter, clothes, education, health care and transport, as well as allowing for some discretionary spending. The minimum wage is set in each country by its government in an attempt to balance the needs of workers and business interests. As a result, the minimum wage is often out of touch with the cost of living, and therefore much lower than a true living wage.

For instance, in Bangladesh the living wage is the equivalent of £40 but actual wages are only £17. Similarly, wages in China and India are also less than half the living wages of those countries. As a result of this difference, workers regularly work long hours – often more than 12 a day – just to make ends meet. Bangladesh, India and China are all major suppliers of goods like clothes that are sold on Britain’s high streets.

This situation means it is not enough for companies to ensure that they pay workers the minimum wage. Supermarkets selling clothes make enormous profits but must not do so at the expense of workers’ rights. Paying a living wage is perfectly compatible with making a profit; what should not be altered or undermined are the workforce’s rights to good working conditions, decent pay and freedom of association.

War on Want is calling on UK supermarkets to start paying the overseas workers that supply them a living wage.

Supermarkets & Sweatshops: Supermarkets today wield unprecedented power on a global scale - find out more about our campaign here.

Take action for the people who make your clothes: Send an e-postcard to the UK’s top four clothing retailers.

Clean Up Fashion: Find out the latest about the injustice and exploitation in the high street fashion industry.

Growing Pains: War on Want exposes the human cost of the cut flower industry in Colombia and Kenya producing flowers for British supermarkets.

Supersized Supermarkets: A reception was held in Westminster giving those affected by supermarkets a chance to inform MPs of the problems they face. View a gallery of the event here.

Tescopoly: War on Want is a member of the Tescopoly Alliance, which challenges the power of Britain's largest retailer. Visit Tescopoly's external website to learn more.