A living wage is a decent remuneration for labor that enables workers to meet their basic needs, sustain healthy lifestyles, and support their dependants. A living wage is a recognized human right, yet it is denied to most of the estimated 80 million workers in the global fashion industry. There is a logic within supply chains to minimize costs and maximize margins and wages are one of the first pressure points to be squeezed by retailers. Wages often make up only a small proportion of the value of fashion products and campaigners have been lobbying on the grounds that paying a living wage would add little to the retail cost of finished garments but could mean a dramatic change for the better in the lives of garment workers. Most garment workers are women, who are kept in deep poverty despite producing garments for leading fashion brands.(1-6)
LIVING WAGE
