GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE LIVING WAGE

That this House notes with concern that a number of government departments are still not paying all their staff, including contractors, the living wage; observes that departments which pay staff rates below the breadline include the Departments of Work and Pensions, International Development, Education, Health, Business Innovation and Skills and the Home Office; applauds those departments which do pay a living wage, including Energy and Climate Change; believes that there can be absolutely no justification for government departments paying poverty wages; further observes that those being paid at such low rates carry out essential work without which the departments could not operate, including contracted cleaners and security staff; further believes that government departments have a duty to pay all their staff, including contractors, the local living wage, both in Whitehall and across the UK, and must also provide holiday pay and sick pay; further notes with great concern reports of staff being penalised and even dismissed for asking for a living wage; believes that it is utterly wrong for the Government to pay staff too little to survive on; and urges Secretaries of State to take urgent action to accredit their departments as living wage employers to ensure that their staff are not living in poverty.