Statement from Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) - 17th March 2009

In advance of the Birkbeck Governors meeting to consider increasing contract workers' pay to £6.50 per hour, the Birkbeck Living Wage Campaign has received a statement from the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) regarding the London Living Wage and their research on the minimum wage:

"The Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) fully supports the campaign for employers to pay their London staff the London Living Wage, as determined by the Greater London Authority. ippr is a Living Wage Employer and ensures that all the people it employs, directly and indirectly, are paid the London Living Wage and enjoy fair employment conditions.

"ippr has previously recommended a higher minimum wage for London workers, to reflect the fact that the impact of the National Minimum Wage is lower for London workers than for workers elsewhere in the country. The minimum wage provides a legal wage floor to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable workers. A higher minimum wage for London would be a legal minimum which would apply to all workers and employers. A living wage moves beyond the legal minimum by helping to ensure that workers have sufficient earnings to avoid poverty.  A higher minimum wage for London is not an alternative to the London Living Wage and should not be used to undermine calls for employers to pay the London Living Wage."