Local employers team up to make Manchester a Living Wage City

Businesses and employers involved in the partnership have agreed to a range of targets over the next three years to help Manchester reach its goal.

Participants are being encouraged to pay employees a real Living Wage, as part of the Living Wage Foundation’s Making Living Wage Places scheme.

They are also committed to encouraging other organisations to get involved in the scheme and join the range of public, private, third sector and civil society representatives that are part of the alliance.

The real Living Wage is based on calculations of how much is needed to afford living costs, providing a voluntary benchmark for employers.

Over 160 employers in the Manchester have already agreed to paying all staff and subcontracted staff a real Living Wage of £10.60 an hour, above the government’s minimum of £9.50.

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: ‘Being recognised for Making a Living Wage City is a marker of our commitment to creating a Manchester where all of our residents can live happy and healthy lives – and have the chance to share in the city’s success.

‘As we see the impact of the cost-of-living crisis become reality, our residents being paid a fair and just amount will be even more important. We know there is a link between good employment, our health and mental health. And that a decent wage is needed to underpin our wellbeing.

‘There remain far too many jobs in Manchester that pay below the Real Living Wage and the challenge we have is to encourage as many businesses as possible to come on this journey with us. Both for the benefit of their employees, but also their own reputation as good employers.’

The Making a Living Wage City plan launched this week lays out how the partnership will double the number of workers receiving a Living Wage over the next three years. This could lead to an extra 4000 workers in the city receiving the upgraded pay by 2025.

The partnership includes the University of Manchester, Bruntwood, KPMG, Manchester International Festival, Greater Manchester Chmaber of Commerce, MACC, One Manchester, GMMH, and Brighter Sounds. Manchester City Council is also an accredited Living Wage Employer since 2019.

Katherine Chapman, Director at the Living Wage Foundation said: ‘The Living Wage Foundation’s Making Living Wage Places scheme recognises groups of major local employers such as universities, sports clubs and local authorities that not only pay the living wage to their employers and contractors, but also use their influence to spread Living Wage accreditation through their local area. This increases Living Wage jobs, providing more workers with a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.’

Photo by jarmoluk