Consultation Portal

A Living Wage

Introduction:

Tackling Inequality is one of the council’s top priorities.  In October 2011 it established a ‘Living Wage Commission’ to consider the citywide implications of introducing a level of pay that genuinely reflects the cost of living in Brighton & Hove.

The Commission comprises public, private and voluntary sector representatives alongside trade unions all of whom are working together to consider the benefits and challenges of establishing a living wage for the city.

A Living Wage is a voluntary scheme which asks for every worker in the country to earn enough to provide their family with the essentials of life and takes into account a certain basic cost of living. Outside London the current rate for a Living Wage is set at £7.20 per hour.

An independent study of the business benefits of implementing a Living Wage in London found that more than 80% of employers believe that the Living Wage had enhanced the quality of work of their staff, while absenteeism had fallen by approximately 25%.

Over 10,000 London families have been lifted out of working poverty as a direct result of the Living Wage.

We realise in these difficult economic times although there may be the will to pay employees a Living Wage, this may not be economically viable for all businesses.  We would like to hear your thoughts and suggestions as to how businesses, the council and its partners can contribute to making a Living Wage a reality for as many working residents as possible.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.