How low is a minimum wage?

In its pilot phase, working closely with the workers’ representatives and local stakeholders, the FAIR SHARE project determined the monthly financial requirements of a family of four living in the Tamil Nadu area in India. The project calculated that instead of the government legal minimum wage of 285 INR per 8 hours shift, workers should receive at least 466 INR for a shift in order to earn a living wage. The FAIR SHARE project therefore set the LIVING WAGE BENCHMARK for the area at 14,048 INR per month.

How do we know this?

In order to reach the set living wage of 466 INR, the lowest grade wage of 307 INR would have to be increased by 159 rupees in net terms. The required increase in wages has been converted into an increase in the labour cost of each garment resulting in an additional 10p per T-shirt and 54p per sweatshirt.

Of course, with the changing minimum wage levels and any possible variations in the living wage benchmark, this will be re-evaluated annually.

Our FAIR SHARE research

In the absence of an existing calculation that would reliably reflect the realities of living and working in the garment industry in Tamil Nadu in India (where the factory is located), the Fair Share project commenced by defining the living wage benchmark specifically in relation to the factory workforce.

Based on the adopted definition of the living wage and primary research results, a round of discussions was held with representatives from a local NGO, the management and the workers of the factory, to put accurate figures on all the elements of the living costs. The result was a net monthly requirement of 12,116 Indian Rupees (INR) set in December 2015. This equates to a standard shift rate of 466 INR “net money in hand”. This figure was then grossed up to allow for the statutory deductions of 13.75% from the pay slip. Consequently, the FAIR SHARE living wage benchmark for the Tamil Nadu area as of December 2015 was set at 14,048 INR per month (£141 or €191). This benchmark will be reviewed annually to keep track of the changing costs of living.

The lowest net wage at the factory for an 8-hour shift was 307 INR after deductions, including guaranteed bonuses but excluding any overtime. At the time of the survey, there were 14 workers (13 helpers and 1 sweeper) on the lowest wage. The highest shift wages were 574 for cutters and 523 for tailors. The average net shift wage was 393 INR.

Even though the current production covered by the FAIR SHARE scheme would only be around 10% of the factory’s output in the first year, it was decided that all the factory workers should benefit from the increase in wages rather than only those actively involved, and it should be paid through the monthly pay roll rather than as a one-off bonus, every month, on a permanent basis.

The initial orders in the first year would not generate sufficient funds to reach the target living wage level in full, and therefore it was agreed that the available funds should be shared equally amongst all the workers through the pay grades, even if some top earners were already above that level. Giving every worker the same net increase was acceptable to all parties, and it was deemed as an equitable way of distributing the funds. In effect, it means the lowest earners would receive the highest increase in percentage terms.

Considering the amount of money the scheme would generate in the first year, the size of the workforce, and in order to ensure adequate provision of funds for every month, the additional amount to be paid to every worker was calculated at 25 rupees per shift, giving a monthly wage increase to every worker of 650 INR.

The Fair Share scheme guaranteed that this additional monthly wage payment would not decrease or stop for as long as the company has a trading relationship with the factory, regardless of the volume of future orders.

A living wage should cover the basic needs of the workers and their families, allow for some savings and must be earned within a 48 hours working week

The problem is that most garment workers in India are employed on the legal minimum wage, which is usually much below the living wage level. They earn more as they become better qualified and occupy more senior positions. However, even then they still do not earn as much as they need for a decent standard of living.

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Living wage for the whole family

The problem is that most garment workers in India are employed on the legal minimum wage, which is usually much below the living wage level. They earn more as they become better qualified and occupy more senior positions. However, even then they still do not earn as much as they need for a decent standard of living.

How low is
a minimum wage?
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Let's make a change

You pay 10%
Increase workers wage by 50%

Adding as little as 10p to the price of a T-shirt, or 54p to the price of a hoody, will result in a 50% increase in the wages of the poorest workers at our factory in India.

From the beginning of 2016 all the workers at the factory making these products in India receive an additional premium towards the living wage.

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know this?
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The scheme so far

Since the start of the FAIR SHARE project in January 2016, all the workers receive a living wage premium with their monthly wages.

The project so far only takes around 10% of the factory’s production capacity, so for now everyone receives extra 650 rupees. This is not a living wage yet, but if we can extend the project, every worker will get at least the living wage.

Our FAIR SHARE
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So we ask you to pay your FAIR SHARE

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