Dr Onkar Sahota, Labour London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon has written to Hillingdon Council to ask that the council progresses to becoming an accredited Living Wage employer.
A joint letter from the Child Poverty Action Group and the Living Wage Foundation highlighted the disparity between the two councils Dr Sahota represents; Ealing is already an accredited Living Wage employer, but Hillingdon is not.
Local London Assembly Member, Dr Sahota, said:
“I understand the severe pressure that austerity and the harsh cuts to council funding is having, but it should be remembered that Britain created the modern welfare state and the National Health Service in far worse economic times. The ambition was there then to achieve those important social goals and make life better for all, and we need to invoke that same ambition now.
“The public sector has long led the way in ending poverty pay and child poverty. The best way of doing that is to pay a wage that means those working do not live in poverty, nor their families as they struggle with inflation, low wage growth and changes to benefits.
“Becoming a living wage employer is not an act of charity, there are clear benefits for the rest of the community and doing so would be an important boost to the borough. Better pay for low paid employees would benefit local businesses, the local economy, and in the long term the council’s finances.”
Notes to editors
- Dr Onkar Sahota is the Labour London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon