The number of night time workers in London has increased with 109,140 new night-time jobs created between 2004 and 2016.[2]
These workers shouldn’t be treated as second class workers, given the contribution they make to the economy.
Night-time workers deserve to be paid the London Living Wage. In some sectors, night workers have seen their pay eroded over the years with the removal of premiums for working anti-social hours.
The London Assembly Economy Committee report ‘Rewrite the night: the future of London’s night time economy’, published today makes a number of recommendations for the Mayor to diversify London’s night time economy:
- The Mayor should research what proportion of night workers receive the London Living Wage and set out steps to ensure night time economy employers pay the London Living Wage.
- The Night Time Commission should bring the industry together to encourage a gold standard in venue management.
- The Mayor should require boroughs to consider the need for dedicated space to showcase the work of artists and musicians in Supplementary Planning Guidance.
- The Mayor should work with boroughs to develop good practice guidance on supporting and consulting local residents in developing the night time economy.
- The Mayor should support museums and galleries, particularly in outer London, to extend their opening hours and to ensure events are well promoted across the capital.
Caroline Russell AM, Chair of the Economy Committee, said:
“Culture needs to be at the heart of diversifying London’s night time economy. It’s not just about bars, clubs and drinking. London’s night time economy should be a thriving and accessible space for Londoners, which involves families. There’s plenty going on in outer London boroughs and it should be showcased.
It is absolutely crucial that the welfare of night time workers is high on the agenda. These workers need to feel safe, be fairly paid and be able to safely travel to and from their places of work.
We also can’t forget about residents and their important views on the impact of the night time economy on their lives. To develop a 24-hour city, the Mayor needs to build on his vision for a more diverse night time economy. It must be open, affordable and accessible to all Londoners.”
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Related documents
Rewrite the night: the future of London's night time economy report
Notes to editors
- ‘Rewrite the night: the future of London’s night time economy’ report attached.
- London’s 24-hour economy, the economic value of London’s 24-hour economy, London First, August 2016
- By night time economy we mean economic and cultural events and businesses that drive a broad spectrum of activity across the whole of London, over a 24-hour period.
- Caroline Russell AM, Chair of the Economy Committee, is available for interview. Please see contact details below.
- London Assembly Economy Committee
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Lisa Lam on 020 7983 4067. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.