Marks & Spencer - commit to a Living Wage for UK workers

Chain store Marks & Spencer have committed to providing a living wage for factory workers in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India in 2015. Their Ethical Factory Model has led to fairly significant wage rises in some plants. It is great that they are showing the industry that you can have a successful business and pay your workers enough to live on. However, they still don't pay many workers in the UK a Living Wage.

In the M&S 2014 AGM they were asked to commit to a living wage for Londoners but gave a very weak response, "The definition of a living wage is subject to discussion. We cannot give you a commitment here today, however, we continue to have a dialogue with a number of groups..."

I believe this is not good enough. I disagree with their excuse that the living wage is subject to discussion. The Living Wage Foundation works with expert researchers to determine this figure — a bare minimum required to have an acceptable standard of living in our society. Paying the Living Wage is good for business, good for the individual and good for society.

M&S claim to have "a competitive pay package for our employees". The fact that competitors are also paying low wages doesn't help workers.

M&S claim that their "commitment to the welfare of our employees remains as strong as ever". Please sign now to demand that M&S show this commitment in real terms — by paying their employees a living wage in the UK.

The Living Wage for 2016 is set at £8.25 per hour and £9.40 per hour in London.