Living Wage: Response from Pentland

Summary: Pentland includes a living wage in its policies. But more work needs to be done to turn this into a reality at factory level.

Pentland is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and so have adopted the base code which includes a commitment to paying a living wage. Pentland has been leading on a wage survey in China within the ETI to establish data about wage levels in its supply chain, and has also been investigating work on pricing and ring fencing the living wage sum within its costing and buying models.

Play Fair’s view:

Pentland’s public commitment to a living wage is very positive. However, if this paper commitment is going to turn into a reality for workers on the ground, Pentland needs to initiate a public action plan to deliver this to workers throughout its supply chains. This should encompass work in areas including: work with other companies, unions and NGOs both in country and internationally; work to create a positive climate for trade unionism and collective bargaining; consideration of commercial factors such as costing models and purchasing practices; and a route-map for delivering the programme across all its suppliers.