Pay supermarket workers in the capital the London Living Wage

Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London, Siobhan Benita, is calling on supermarkets to pay workers the London Living Wage.

Many retail workers, including at supermarkets, earn the minimum wage, which falls below the real cost of living in the capital according to the Living Wage Foundation.

With coronavirus highlighting how crucial supermarket workers are – and with the new tax year beginning today seeing just a small increase in the minimum wage – Benita says now is the moment to boost the wages of these essential workers and recognise their vital contribution.

Siobhan Benita said:

“Supermarkets are one of the few businesses experiencing increased demand at this time. Everyone in the sector is working hard to adapt, to keep shelves stocked and to ensure that shoppers and staff are kept safe. I’d like to thank everyone in the industry for their brilliant efforts in rising to these exceptional challenges.

“But across the capital, many supermarket workers are not being paid what they deserve despite putting themselves at risk of catching the virus every day so that Londoners can get their essential food and supplies.

“With the new tax year starting on Monday, the minimum wage (for over 25s) increases from £8.21 to £8.72 per hour. If that sounds like it isn’t enough to live on in a city like ours, that’s because it isn’t. It’s a far cry from the London Living Wage of £10.75 per hour which is based on analysis of the real cost of living in the capital.

“That’s why I’m calling on London’s major supermarkets to pay ALL their staff at least the London Living Wage and I’ve launched a petition so the public can back that call. It’s never been clearer than now how much we need them and how much they need a real living wage.”