UK supermarkets urged to restore real living wage pay across chains

Major UK supermarkets are facing renewed pressure to restore pay to the real living wage, after several retailers scaled back commitments in the face of industry cost pressures. Investor group ShareAction is leading the charge, urging the country’s largest grocery chains to reinstate pay at the independently calculated benchmark that reflects true living costs. The real living wage today stands at £13.45 an hour nationally and £14.80 in London, while the national minimum wage rises to £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over on 1 April.

Some retailers have recently announced pay increases that still don’t align with the real living wage. M&S revealed a wage hike of at least 6.4% but did not align with the real living wage. The Co-operative Group followed with a 3.5% increase from April, yet dropped its long-standing commitment to the benchmark. Big players Tesco and Sainsbury’s have not matched the real living wage since 2025. Aldi and Lidl remain the only major chains paying entry-level staff in line with the living wage nationwide, while Waitrose’s John Lewis Partnership lifted pay by 6.9% from April but only matches the real living wage within the M25.

ShareAction argues that restoring the real living wage would be a clear signal of how retailers manage costs and reward staff, and it says pressure on firms will be a major focus at upcoming annual meetings. The campaign highlights the tension between cost pressures and fair pay, and critics say higher wages could affect prices while supporters say the social contract with workers demands it, especially as costs of living continue to rise.

With the cost of living under scrutiny and supermarkets facing continued public attention, the outcome of investor pressure could reshape pay across the sector in the coming months, particularly if more chains commit to the living wage or extend it across all employees.

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