Ravin Jesuthasan and Ana Kreacic
11 de febrero de 2026
What is the ‘living wage’?
This video is part of: Centro para la Nueva Economía y Sociedad
Across the world, 24% of employers now pay a living wage, while 54% of the rest expect to in the next 5 years according to a survey by PwC and WageIndicator. A living wage pays enough to provide a decent standard of living for both a worker and their family. It should be enough to provide for basic needs such as food, water, housing, clothing and transport along with some discretionary income. While also enabling people to save for unexpected events.
According to a survey by PwC and WageIndicator, 24% of employers now pay a living wage, that is, a wage that is enough to provide a decent standard of living for both a worker and their family. An additional 54% are expected to do so within the next five years.
The history of the living wage
The concept of a living wage originated in 1907 Australia, gaining momentum after both World Wars through the International Labour Organization.
While national living wage laws exist (e.g., UK), many countries rely on minimum wages that often fall short, especially for excluded workers (farm/domestic).
Benefits of a living wage
There are clear benefits to paying a living wage, even for businesses. Consumers are increasingly seeking out ethical brands and will switch to competitors if a company falls short.
Paying a living wage benefits not only employees but also businesses through increased consumer loyalty, worker productivity, and economic growth.
La Agenda Semanal
Una actualización semanal de los temas más importantes de la agenda global
