Public Authorities and the Real Living Wage

Abstract

Abstract This chapter describes the response of public authorities to the Living Wage. The first part of the chapter examines the extent of Living Wage accreditation amongst public sector organizations, demonstrates that the latter are particularly likely to adopt the Living Wage, and concludes that this is evidence of a continuing ‘good employer’ commitment. The chapter also identifies which types of public sector organizations are likely to adopt the Living Wage and shows that the latter is a characteristic of devolved governments and regional and local authorities, particularly where the latter are controlled by parties of the centre-left. The second part of the chapter reviews the steps that public authorities have taken to promote the Living Wage. Supporting authorities have no power to legislate for the Living Wage, but they have used non-legislative measures to promote the standard, including procurement, grant funding, wage subsidy, and funding the campaign itself.