THE LIVING WAGE

As wealth inequality skyrockets and trade union power declines the living wage movement has become ever more urgent for public policymakers academics and most importantly those workers whose wages hover close to the breadline A real living wage in any part of the world is rarely its minimum wage it is the minimum income needed to cover living costs and participate fully in society Most governments minimum wages are still falling short meaning millions of workers struggle to cover their living costs This book brings new vital insights to the conversation from a carefully selected group of contributors at the forefront of this field By juxtaposing advances across sectors and countries and encompassing many different approaches and indeed definitions of the living wage Dobbins and Prowse offer a rich tapestry of approaches that may inform public policy By including the experiences and voices of those workers earning at or near the living wage alongside the opinions of leading experts in this field this book is a pioneering contribution for public policymakers as well as students and academics of work and employment relations public policy organizational studies social economics and politics