- Major UK supermarkets are facing renewed pressure to restore worker pay to the real living wage, a voluntary benchmark reflecting true living costs.
- Investor activist group ShareAction is leading the campaign, urging grocery chains to commit to the real living wage, currently £13.45 nationally and £14.80 in London.
- M&S, The Co-operative Group, Tesco, and Sainsbury's no longer pay staff in line with the real living wage, despite offering rates above the national minimum wage.
- Aldi and Lidl are the only major supermarkets that currently pay entry-level staff the real living wage nationwide, while John Lewis Partnership (Waitrose) only matches it for employees within the M25.
- ShareAction plans to make pay commitments a major focus at upcoming annual general meetings, arguing that better pay offers proven business benefits despite sector cost pressures.
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