The principle behind the Living Wage is that a full-time job should pay enough for people to buy the essentials in life like food, clothes and housing and provide for their families. The Living Wage is set at £9.15 in London and £7.85 across the rest of Britain.
More than five MILLION workers don't earn a living wage and struggle to survive http://t.co/KvsbD82H9s #FairPayFortnight via @DailyMirror
— TUC Media Team (@TUCnews) February 23, 2015
However it's been revealed that more than five million people get paid less than this. Analysis of figures from the House of Commons Library carried out by the TUC shows that one in five people are paid less than the living wage; in some areas of the country, more than half of the people working earn less than this. Constituencies in Birmingham and Bristol top the ‘living wage black spots'.
Calder Valley has been failed by this government, pay has gone down whilst prices have gone up #fairpayfortnight pic.twitter.com/YptSuLSGA8
— Josh Fenton-Glynn (@JoshFG) February 23, 2015
And for women, according to the TUC, ‘the picture is even bleaker'. Analysis reveals that 63.1 percent of women in Birmingham Northfield constituency earn less than the living wage and in Kingswood in Bristol, its 59.6 percent.
"Extending the living wage is a vital step towards tackling the growing problem of in-work poverty across Britain", says Frances O'Grady, TUC's General Secretary.
"Working families have experienced the biggest squeeze on their living standards since Victorian times, and these living wage figures show that women are disproportionately affected. Pay has been squeezed at all levels below the boardroom, and the government's mantra about ‘making work pay' is completely out of touch with reality."
According to the Church of England, ‘the Living Wage shows a clear commitment to treating people with dignity and respect, and to valuing the unique contribution that every worker makes to their organisation'. The Right Reverend John Sentamu, Archbishop of York and Chair of the Living Wage Commission says:
"Our call for a Living Wage recognises that we need to value each and every person and that people should be paid a fair wage for a fair day's work".
However the Church of England is being asked to ‘practice what they preach' following revelations that one Church job is being advertised at £6.50 an hour, despite demanding employers in Britain pay at least the living wage.
The analysis of the figures by the TUC is part of the trade union's Fair Pay Fortnight campaign to raise awareness about low pay in social inequality. In April 2013, the British government introduced changes to the welfare programme including the ‘bedroom tax' and a cap on the amount of benefits people can claim.
The secret to a fair economy is fair pay | Check out our #FairPayFortnight blog: http://t.co/I936vzAfrJ pic.twitter.com/ClfdlwxZy9
— UNISON — the union (@unisontweets) February 23, 2015
People earning a low wage, or receiving Job Seeker's Allowance are eligible for housing benefits from the local authority to help with rent. As the wage increases, the benefits decrease until they stop altogether. Sounds simple — but factor in council tax, electricity, gas and food and the stark reality is that some people in Britain are too poor to eat properly, or even heat their homes — despite going to work.
Get involved in #FairPayFortnight — check out the events near you http://t.co/le4t4gNvQy pic.twitter.com/FQmNCQaQQ6
— Unite the union (@unitetheunion) February 20, 2015
A recent report by Oxfam and the New Policy Institute suggests the welfare cuts imposed by the coalition government have left 1.75 million of the poorest people in Britain, even poorer. The report suggests that changes to the housing benefits and council tax support has meant some low-income families who should be eligible for benefits are forced to meet rising housing costs themselves.
#FairPayFortnight goes to @ClaphamPH to demand fairer pay for ALL Picturehouse staff. Petition http://t.co/qscF96Gcnj pic.twitter.com/rVWy9DNi23
— Stronger Unions (@strongerunions) February 23, 2015
Many jobseekers, carers, and single parents who are unable to work are subsequently worse off. And for those who are working but paid very little — but just above the threshold to receive any benefits — the decision whether to eat or heat their home is made on a daily basis.
