Living Wage Foundation slammed for accrediting firm paying below living wage
Living Wage Foundation slammed for accrediting firm paying below living wage

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Low-paid cleaners in the UK have accused the Living Wage Foundation of giving accreditation to an outsourcing company paying less than the living wage, reports The Guardian. Facilities services giant OCS is accredited under a bespoke scheme for outsourcing firms. However, the company has only committed to paying a living wage to its centrally employed staff. The scheme does not cover the majority of OCS’s 50,000 workforce, who are tied to external contracts.
Staff at OCS who clean the British Airways headquarters and its Heathrow offices only receive £11.44 an hour, which is the minimum permitted by the government. Their pay is below the foundation’s current living wage rate of £12.60 across the UK and £13.85 an hour in London.
A Living Wage Foundation page on the OCS website states that the firm is a “long-term … champion of the real living wage”, which is working with the foundation “to champion the living wage one contract at a time”. The foundation accredits some of the UK’s largest outsourcing companies under its service provider scheme, which is separate from its living wage employer certification. Accredited outsourcing firms must offer a living wage option when they attempt to win contracts but they do not have to guarantee a living wage to employees on client contracts.
An OCS spokesperson said any claims made are treated seriously, adding, “Our priority is the welfare of our colleagues. To support this, we offer a range of initiatives, including schemes to assist with financial well-being. We also work closely with our customers to ensure pay and conditions meet contractual agreements and industry standards.”
The Living Wage Foundation said it worked with service providers to drive living wage jobs in some of the lowest-paid sectors. “Through this work with over 190 recognised service providers, we have seen an additional 130,000 jobs lifted onto a real living wage. We know the impact of this on workers and their families, and we will continue to work with leading service providers to push for more jobs that meet the cost of living, and provide people with everyday needs.”
SIA contacted the Living Wage Foundation.