Fact Service July 2014

Issue 26

Living Wage to be paid by food and drink firm

The food and drink multinational Nestlé has become the first large manufacturer to commit to paying its staff and contracted-out staff the Living Wage. This means the lowest paid of its 8,000 workforce will be paid an hourly rate of £8.80 in London and £7.70 in other parts of the UK.

Nestlé UK and Ireland group HR director Matt Stripe said the move would not have been possible “without the support and partnership of our unions Unite, GMB and Usdaw”.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said the deal shows a “willingness to start to tackle poverty pay in a traditionally low-paying sector”, while GMB general secretary Paul Kenny added it is a step in the right direction for manufacturing.

“This shows once and for all that if one leading manufacturer can pay a living wage to all employees, including young workers and those contracted out, then many more are able to do so,” Kenny said.

www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1145153/nestle-manufacturer-receive-living-wage-accreditation