“Decent work is not possible without decent wages”

This opening line of Richard Anker and Martha Anker’s new book entitled, Living Wages Around the World: Manual for Measurement” encapsulates the tremendous contribution that this work makes to the centuries-long dialogue on living wages, which is a meaningful issue for companies worldwide. The book, which represents the culmination of decades of research and practical experience by its authors, describes a new methodology to measure a decent but basic standard of living in different countries. Commissioned by the Global Living Wage Coalition(GLWC) – a coalition for six standard systems, including SAN/Rainforest Alliance — and published earlier this year by Edward Elgar, this manual offers what is to date the most detailed, rigorous, and publicly-available step-by-step methodology for establishing living wage benchmarks – often called the Anker Methodology.

A resounding message coming out of this topic is that living wage is a process. We now have a clear methodology for establishing living wages in a particular geography. The benchmarks themselves eliminate ambiguity and provide a clear and transparent goal. Still, unless the living wage is very close to the current wages paid, no company should be expected to realize living wages across their supply chain overnight. To do so would be inadvisable as we still have much to learn about the wider economic impacts of large, fast shifts in wages. What is absolutely necessary, however, for the health of communities and businesses alike, is commitment to a living wage path, calculation of wage gaps, and thoughtful, transparent plans for implementing living wages. The plans and the processes must involve consultation with workers themselves, and their union representatives.

Living wage as a process is a clear tenant of the 2017 SAN Standard, adherence to which is a requirement of Rainforest Alliance Certification. Included in the set of criteria under Principle 4: Improved Livelihood and Human Wellbeing, before criteria on the payment of living wages, is the requirement that farm management and group administrators document and implement a living wage plan, to progress towards payment of living wage wherever living wage benchmarks are available (based on the Anker methodology).

A key tenet of the Rainforest Alliance is to help ensure sustainable livelihoods. Living wage is an important part of this journey. Living Wages Around the World is the road-map. We are all travelling companions. And the living wage benchmarks, based on the Anker methodology, are the first stop on the road to decent work.

Source:

https://thefrogbusinessblog.org/2017/05/03/decent-work-is-not-possible-without-decent-wages/