20 Years National Living Wage

The Living Wage Campaign is an independent movement is an independentmovement of businesses, organisations and people who believe a hardday’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. Employers can voluntarily choose topay the real living wage, providing an ethical benchmark for responsiblepay. The campaign was launched by members of London Citizens in 2001,where parents found that although they were working multiple part timejobs, they struggled to make ends meet. Which left for no energy or time tofuel back into community and family life.

The campaign is a great example of how civil society, businesses and organisations can work together to tackle in-work poverty and has gained support across a variety of sectors. Whether that be political parties, the public and first ministers in Wales and Scotland. This year is particularly important, as the campaign turns twenty!

This means, that for twenty years the campaign has lifted over 260,000people out of in-work poverty and has delivered over £1.5 billion in extra wages since the campaign began in 2001. It has also helped

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of university graduated wiant to work for a Living wage Employer

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of the Living Wage network say it has benefitted their business

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of consumers agreed that pay should reflet living costs

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of Living Wage Employers said it has enhanced their reputation as an employer

History of the Living Wage Campaign

The idea for the Living Wage Movement, born 20 years ago during a meeting in East London. Citizens UK brought together churches, mosques, schools, and other community organisations to talk about the main issues affecting their communities. From that meeting came a powerful movement, with influential community leaders calling out major employers to pay their staff a National Living Wage. In 2011, the movement went national. The first UK Living Wage rate was launched, and the National Living Wage foundation was created. Celebrating the businesses that chose to go further than the government minimum wage.

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Throughout Living Wage Week, the campaign will be celebrating the strength of the movement and a network of over 8,000 employers. During2020, despite the pandemic and its impact on businesses across the UK, over 2,000 new employers committed to pay a real Living Wage. The employers join over 8,000 Living Wage accredited employers, including those such as Aviva, Nationwide, Burberry, Brewdog and thousands of small businesses.

Future

Throughout Living Wage Week, the campaign will be celebrating thestrength of the movement and a network of over 8,000 employers. During2020, despite the pandemic and its impact on businesses across the UK, over 2,000 new employers committed to pay a real Living Wage. The employers join over 8,000 Living Wage accredited employers, including those such as Aviva, Nationwide, Burberry, Brewdog and thousands of small businesses.

Join us in supporting and celebrating the Living Wage Foundation and the ways in which the foundation supports individuals tackling in-job poverty. Including their new Living Wage Programme and Living Wage Scheme.

For more information on The Living Wage Campaign, head to https://www.livingwage.org.uk/living-wage-week

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