BIRKBECK LIVING WAGE CAMPAIGN

That this House welcomes the unanimous decision by the Birkbeck College governors to adopt the London living wage of £7.45 per hour for all cleaning and catering staff; applauds the hard work of all those involved in the Birkbeck Living Wage Campaign led by the students' union and the UNISON and University and College Union branches; commends Birkbeck College's commitment to extending opportunities for working people and welcomes the college's continued commitment to its mission statement of providing an `inclusive working environment for its staff' where they can `develop their full potential'; regrets that across London there are many workers who earn as little as £5.73 per hour, receiving no sick pay or no pension, and that many take two jobs to make ends meet; believes that every worker should have the right to a living wage and that other employers should follow Birkbeck College's good example; and urges the Government to increase the level of the minimum wage to a living wage for all workers.