On February 4, Global Living Wage Coalition (GLWC) members came together in an online public webinar to discuss the need for credible methods and frameworks to measure and report on Living Wage progress over time. Speakers included GLWC partners ISEAL and the Anker Research Institute (ARI), as well as GLWC members Fairtrade USA, and Social Accountability International (SAI). They were joined by representatives from CNV Internationaal and the Platform Living Wage Financials (PLWF).
The GLWC was thrilled to see a high level of interest on the topic of living wage measurement and progress, with over 300 participants located across 64 countries and representing over 60 industries.
Setting the Stage for Ongoing Progress
After introducing the GLWC, Kristin Komives (Director of Programmes, ISEAL) offered keynote remarks, speaking to the current state of living wages, which have moved from a fringe subject to the forefront of global conversation around sustainability and human rights. As living wages move from voluntary to mandatory requirements with upcoming HREDD legislation, she remarked on the need to move beyond conversation to practical implementation at scale. She emphasized the need to measure and recognize progress toward closing living wages gaps, which requires a collaborative and continuous approach from stakeholders.
Resource: ISEAL’s Framework for Credible Living Wage Claims
Measurement Approaches
Marcelo Delajara (Deputy Director and Senior Researcher, ARI) continued the conversation by underscoring the importance of credible living wage estimates and assessment tools in measuring progress in closing living wage gaps. Describing the characteristics of credible living wage and prevailing wage estimates, he highlighted the need for alignment among stakeholders.
Throughout the discussion, the importance of robust data collection and tools for measuring living wage progress was repeated. Daantje Bras (Fundraiser and Partnership Coordinator, CNV Internationaal) spoke to the importance of a bottom-up approach towards living wages and the importance of worker and union engagement in the process. She described CNV’s Fair Work Monitor tool, developed in collaboration with the Anker Research Institute, which measures living wage gaps and empowers unions and workers to with data to inform their collective voice.
Petter Forslund (Engagement Manager at AP2 and Member of Platform Living Wage Financials) introduced the Platform Living Wage Financials – an alliance of financial institutions committed to enabling living wages and living incomes in supply chains. From this perspective, he emphasized the need for companies to take data-driven approaches for investors to better understand what progress is being made on the ground.
Progressive Efforts
All speakers agreed on the importance of embracing progressive improvement efforts, reminding the audience that closing living wage gaps will take time. Past experience in other contexts of complex social issues have made clear that a binary compliance approach cannot solve systemic problems. Marcelo Delajara (ARI) emphasized that, in the case of living wages, this approach also risks further marginalizing low-income countries that are starting with a larger living wage gap. As such, tools and measurement approaches must be focused on measuring and holding companies accountable for progress, but not on cutting off or denouncing those that are still working to close the gap.
Panelists agreed that the most important first step for companies is to set realistic time-bound commitments, focusing on long-term sustainability instead of short-term targets, and to stick to their commitments.
Supporting Progress
Another theme that emerged in the discussion was the need for capacity building and tailored approaches and resources. Debora Rosado (Director, Standards and Implementation Resources, Fairtrade USA) described Fairtrade USA’s framework for tailored living wage approaches and improvement plans for different sectors (factories and agricultural organizations) in their certification program, which are based on their initial capacity.
Christie Daly (Director of Corporate Programs, SAI) explained that among other challenges, a lack of internal knowledge at companies is often a barrier to closing living wage gaps. There are a variety of strategies companies can take to address this, such as training for internal teams and suppliers, conducting current wage and gap assessments by using concrete tools and calculators, and assessing purchasing practices.
Get Involved
Interested in continuing the conversation? There are plenty of ways to continue momentum to achieve living wages:
Companies: Invest in high-quality benchmarks. Email: inquiries@ankerinstitute.org
Advocacy groups, researchers, consultants, unions, and workers: Read, share, and use the benchmarks for your work. Visit: www.globallivingwage.org
Standard-setter or non-profit: Join the GLWC! Email: glwc@globallivingwage.org
All: stay up to date with the latest news and estimates: www.globallivingwage.org/subscribe
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