Siân Berry has welcomed Ken Livingstone’s concern over the growing gender pay gap in London, but added that the exploitation of women on poverty wages was an even bigger concern than the lack of women in top City jobs. Women are 58% more likely than men to be paid less than the London Living Wage.
Siân Berry, who was last week made a Patron of the new Fair Pay Network, said:
"Livingstone is right to point to the lack of women in top jobs in the financial sector. But a bigger reason for London’s huge pay gap is that the largely male upper echelons of the financial giants are awash with money, but pay their mostly female cleaners poverty wages.
"Under pressure from campaigners like London Citizens and the T&G union, some City firms have committed to paying all their staff at least the London Living Wage of £7.20 per hour. As Mayor, I’d happily name and shame those that won’t follow suit, and reward those that do."
Among the firms that have become Living Wage Employers are Citigroup and KPMG. The London Living Wage is promoted by the GLAs Living Wage Unit, which was created by the Green AMs, Darren Johnson and Jenny Jones, in their negotiations over the Mayor’s budget.