The Tories won’t build a Living Wage Society – but we must

“A fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work”. That has always been one our core Labour values. It was called out at rallys and painted on banners under which our movement marched. It has been a rallying cry for generations of activists across our movement. And we are rightly proud to be the party that introduced the Minimum Wage 17 years ago.

Tackling low pay changes lives for the better.

But two decades on, it’s time for the next generation in Labour to build on that work to make sure more people can earn the living wage.

The Low Pay Commission, which oversees the Minimum Wage, has a wealth of skills and experience. It is one of the best examples of what government can achieve when it brings together businesses, employees and trade unions to work in partnership.

But rather than tackling the full range of issues around low pay, the commission is focused on setting the level of the national minimum wage.

We must now look at increasing pay beyond that. So we need it to become a real Low Pay Commission, driving up wages and ensuring that the principle of fair pay is extended throughout the economy.

As Labour’s next Prime Minister I would extend the legal remit of the Low Pay Commission to work with employers, unions and civil society to identify practical, non-statutory ways to move wages towards the living wage, sector by sector.

Giving the Low Pay Commission this additional remit would protect its independence and mean the expertise and institutional support behind the minimum wage can support the living wage as well.

This is a priority for me, because the inequalities in power, wealth and opportunity that scar our country are holding us back. Tackling low pay across the economy will be a key part of the Living Wage Society we must build together.

One of the first areas I’ll act on as Labour leader is the scandal of low pay in social care.

As Shadow Care Minister, I’ve championed dignity for older people and the people who care for them, including by ensuring care workers are paid a decent wage.

Care workers are amongst the poorest paid workers in Britain. Thousands don’t even get the minimum wage, let alone the living wage, because they aren’t paid for travel time between appointments.

So I’ve asked Baroness Denise Kingsmill, Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock and Nita Clarke to immediately start work on how to tackle low pay in social care.

As we build a Living Wage society, we must ensure that those who do the crucial work of caring for our loved ones are paid a decent wage.

That’s the kind of action that our values, our history and our future prosperity demand.

The Tories don’t share those values. They claim you can raise wages by cutting tax credits. The reality is that only drives those in low-paid jobs further into poverty.

Rather than coming up with a strategy to tackle low pay, the Tories are determined to hit the low paid hardest.

The next Labour government must focus on how we raise wages and build a society that tackles poverty pay, and gives everyone the opportunity of a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work.

That’s the kind of party, and government, that I’d lead.

You can join my campaign for a Living Wage society here.

Liz Kendall MP is Shadow Care Minister and a candidate for Labour leader