Steve Rotheram launches Fair Employment Charter

A bid to improve working conditions for thousands of working people across the Liverpool City Region has begun as Steve Rotheram launched a consultation on a new Fair Employment Charter.

The consultation will hear the views of workers, trade unions, businesses and employers from across the city region on what they would like to see in a Fair Employment Charter that would support employers in delivering improved working conditions as they grow and create jobs.

During his election campaign the Metro Mayor pledged to introduce a charter to recognise and celebrate businesses that pay the real living wage and minimise the use of zero hours contracts, and encourage more businesses to do the same.

At present, more than a quarter of the local workforce earn less than the Real Living Wage with an estimated 19000 workers on zero hours contracts.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“Our city region is home to world-class businesses that are investing, innovating and growing. But despite this, our overall productivity lags behind the rest of the UK and rising in-work poverty and insecure employment prevents people from fulfilling their potential. We cannot let this continue.

“Businesses know that the best way to succeed is to get the best from their employees. Fairly-paid employees with security of employment, are more productive employees, contributing to competitive, successful and growing businesses. 

“As a Combined Authority we are taking a lead on this issue, ensuring that issues of social impact, including fair employment practices, are taken into account when we decide which projects we will support with our £500m Strategic Investment Fund.

“I want to encourage as many people as to help us create this charter, so that together we can make the Liverpool City Region the best place to work or invest.”

The launch of today’s consultation will help shape the development of the charter and run until March. Engagement events will be held with business, trades unions and stakeholders around the city region, ahead of the full charter being published in Autumn 2019.

If you wish to have your say on the future of fair employment in the city region, you can fill out the survey here.