Manufacturers urged to sign up to GM Good Employment Charter

On 15 November, the Living Wage Foundation is hosting an online event to celebrate the real Living Wage in Greater Manchester. The event will feature Mayor Andy Burnham and his vision for a real Living Wage across the city region.

In 2019, Andy Burnham launched the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter to improve employment standards in the city region and champion organisations that demonstrate best practice.

Members of the voluntary scheme include several of Greater Manchester’s largest organisations, as well as smaller employers such as Stockport-based One+All (formerly Rowlinson Knitwear), a manufacturer and supplier of schoolwear and corporatewear.

Speaking during Living Wage Week in 2020, Donald Moore, Chair of One+All, said:

“The pandemic is having an unparalleled impact on people’s lives, particularly those in traditionally lower paid jobs. While many aspects of our lives have changed this year, the business case for paying the real Living Wage hasn’t. It’s not only the right thing to do, but there is clear evidence that Living Wage employers benefit from higher productivity, better employee engagement and lower employee turnover.”

Paying, or working towards paying, the real Living Wage is one of seven ‘good employment characteristics’ in the GM Good Employment Charter, along with providing secure work, flexible working, workplace engagement, excellent recruitment, improved people management and health & wellbeing.

Members of the Charter gain access to a range of resources, networking events and peer-to-peer support, as well as the proven benefits associated with good employment practice. 

On 17 November, an in-person event hosted by pro-manchester and Bruntwood will explore the productivity gains that can be realised by all businesses when adopting the real Living Wage. Among the speakers at the event will be Director of the GM Good Employment Charter, Ian MacArthur.

Large organisations are increasingly looking for partners and suppliers that support the Living Wage. Earlier in 2021, Unilever announced a plan to ensure that all of its direct UK suppliers will pay the Living Wage by 2030.