Only three of the top ten supermarket chains in the capital pay less than the London Living Wage (LLW) rate of £13.15 an hour, with German discount brands Aldi and Lidl leading the field on £13.65, according to figures compiled by Sky News.
Asda’s rate, at £3.21 per hour, also exceeds the voluntary level calculated by the Living Wage Foundation to be sufficient to meet everyday needs in London. Tesco, the Co-op, Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury’s all pay £13.15. The statutory National Living Wage for over-21s is £11.44 across the whole of the UK.
Only Waitrose (£12.89), Iceland (£12.65) and Morrisons (£12.29) fail to pay the LLW, although Waitrose offers staff a 20 per cent discount on its goods, as does Marks and Spencer. Iceland and Morrisons offer 15 per cent discounts and the Co-op one of 30 per cent on its own label goods and 10 per cent on others along with a bonus system.
All of the others off 10 per cent staff discounts, with the except of Aldi, the joint highest wage payer, which offers none, though Sky News reports that Aldi is unusual in giving staff paid breaks and perks such as discounted gym memberships and cinema tickets. Tesco, Waitrose, Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury’s provide staff with free meals.
The pay and conditions of supermarket employees have come under scrutiny in recent years due to stores staying open during the pandemic lockdowns and needing to be staffed, and the rise in shoplifting, which can place shop staff at risk if they attempt to intervene.
The current LLW rate, which was announced last October, is, as always, higher than what the foundation calls the “real living wage” in the rest of the UK, which currently stands at £12 an hour, reflecting the capital’s higher cost of living. The supermarkets apply the LLW rate to all stores within the M25, not only those within the Greater London boundary.
OnLondon.co.uk provides unique coverage of the capital’s politics, development and culture. Support it for just £5 a month or £50 a year and get things for your money too. Details HERE. Threads. X/Twitter: On London and Dave Hill. Main image from Aldi. Chart reproduced from Sky News Money Blog.