This Living Wage Week, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the incredible progress being made across the world to ensure that work genuinely pays wherever you are. The global living wage movement is growing stronger every year — transforming workplaces, supporting communities, and reshaping what it means to build a fair economy.
A real living wage does more than cover basic needs. It provides dignity, security, stability and a way out of poverty. It creates businesses that thrive on loyalty and quality, and societies built on fairness and opportunity.
This week, we’re shining a light on the difference it makes — for workers, employers, and communities everywhere.
The Global movement in action
“Aid can’t fix poverty — but a living wage can.” – Alliance Magazine
Amid global crises and growing inequality, public trust in politics to alleviate some of the financial strain felt by workers across the world is at a record low. Yet a new, people-centred movement is rising across borders — the global living wage movement. This is a global movement, rooted in local realities which seeks fair pay for all workers, and a social and economic transformation and a more equitable future. Read more.
1.New Zealand: Fair Pay, Fair Futures
At Clean for Good, an Accredited Living Wage Employer in New Zealand, fair pay is more than policy — it’s purpose.
“We clean homes, but we’re really caring for people,” the team says. “Paying the Living Wage gives our staff secure full-time work, training, and a real pathway to grow.”
The company’s commitment has led to happier teams, loyal clients, and reduced turnover. Their message to other small businesses? “Even very small companies can play their part and walk their words.”
Across Aotearoa, the movement is growing — even in the face of a cost-of-living crisis. Local mayors are reaffirming their Living Wage accreditation commitments, and the national government has included living wage clauses in new procurement standards — a huge win for workers nationwide.
2. United States: Building businesses around human dignity
The Living Wage for US (LW4US) initiative is making a huge difference to workers across the US, having delivered more than $350 million in direct increases to worker earnings and benefits, supporting over 250,000 employees.
Photo: Michelle Murray, CEO at LW4US, presents the WageMap initiative at the IDH RoadMap on Living Wages event in September 2025
With over 300 partner employers and 3,000+ wage estimates annually, LW4US is advancing tools like WageMap, designed to bring consistency and alignment to global living wage standards.
3. Wales: Public sector leadership for change
In one of the UK’s most economically challenged regions, the Living Wage movement is gaining ground. 5 of Wales’ 22 local authorities are now accredited, showing public sector leadership at its best.
The Future Generations Commissioner has now made the Living Wage a core consideration in public service decision-making — embedding fair pay as part of a long-term vision for a sustainable, equitable Wales: Fair work in Cardiff – a Real Living Wage - Future Generations Wales
4. Canada: Collaboration and growth
Across Canada, momentum is building. Recent research has shed light on how many workers still earn below a living wage — galvanizing national efforts.
Highlights include:
- Holding a summer National Living Wage Summit bringing together the movement across Canada
- Ontario Living Wage: Research into their employer network demonstrated how certification has helped businesses to grow, attract and retain talent: 2024 Employer Feedback on Certification
- Living Wage BC: Know how important it is to hear from workers with their Kitchen Table Discussions, which led to the influential “Food for Thought” report — connecting food affordability with fair pay across the food chain.
- Alberta Living Wage Network: Inn from the Cold “hope to inspire other organizations in our community to join this important movement” with their accreditation: Inn from the Cold: Proud to Be an Official Alberta Living Wage Employer - Inn from the Cold
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives & IRIS: Continue to drive wage calculations across provinces, helping unions, policymakers, and communities understand the real cost of living and negotiate accordingly.
5.Mexico: Vida Digna — In pursuit of a dignified life
In Mexico, where half the workforce earns below the poverty line, the Vida Digna (Dignified Life) collective is redefining corporate responsibility. Formed by private sector and civil society leaders, with a clear mission: to promote the adoption of a living wage by businesses. It is the culmination of many years of advocacy and will celebrate its first year in December.
Business leaders are calling for an end to “factories of poverty,” recognizing that sustainable business success depends on thriving workers and communities.
“There’s no way to have a successful business in a failed society.” – José Medina Mora
6. Spain: A decade of progress
In Spain, 10 years of living wage advocacy have brought the concept into mainstream discussions. Annual living wage calculations for cities like Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca are now covered by the media and used by advocates and community groups to shape conversations on public policy and poverty reduction strategies.
7. India: Listening to workers, driving change
In India, Social Compact, an organization working with businesses to strengthen worker well-being, has seen promising progress toward ensuring living wages. One partner company has recognized the need to increase wages for over 2,500 contractual workers, setting a strong example for others to follow. Social Compact is also conducting living wage surveys that capture worker voices directly, offering deep insights into their daily realities and shaping company policies and advocacy efforts rooted in evidence. Encouragingly, two regional governments—Karnataka and Maharashtra—have issued draft notifications inviting public feedback on proposals to revise minimum wages closer to a living wage benchmark.
8. Bermuda: Shifting standards
With the introduction of a statutory minimum wage in 2023 and growing discussion of a future living wage law, Bermuda is witnessing cultural change. As Mischa Fubler from the Living Wage Commission notes, early results are clear — workers are taking deserved sick days and vacations without financial fear, signalling progress toward true security and dignity.
9. Middle East: Expanding horizons
Since 2020, advocates in the UAE and Lebanon have been working to establish Living Wage Middle East. They are focusing on digital innovation and AI-driven tools to help employers adopt fair pay practices across the region.
10. United Kingdom: Transforming the landscape of low pay
In the UK the movement started in 2001 as a grassroots movement to tackle low pay. Since then, it has grown to 16,000 UK employers. Living Wage Employers commit to paying all their staff, as well as their third-party contractors like cleaners and security guards, at least the real Living Wage. Across the UK, 1 in 7 employees now work for an accredited Living Wage Employer.
Read more about the history of the movement.
Looking ahead
From Mexico City to Mumbai, Vancouver to Cardiff, the global living wage movement continues to grow at an impressive rate. Each new accreditation, conversation, and commitment is a step toward a world where every worker can live with dignity.
Because at its heart, the Living Wage movement is about more than pay.
It’s about respect, equality, and a shared belief that when people thrive, societies do too.
More information on our work with the Global Living Wage.
💬 How has the Living Wage made a difference for you? Join the conversation this Living Wage Week using #LivingWageWeek and #GlobalLivingWage.