"Unilever has promised that every worker who provides it with goods and services will earn a living wage by 2030 even if it costs the company more," CNN reports, adding that "the living wage initiative will extend to 65,000 direct suppliers and several thousand agricultural businesses."
According to the story, "The owner of Ben & Jerry's and Dove also pledged to spend €2 billion ($2.4 billion) annually by 2025 with suppliers owned and managed by people from under-represented groups, including women and Black people, up from €300 million ($363 million) currently."
In its statement, Unilever said a living wage "allows people to afford a decent standard of living, covering a family's basic needs: food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transportation, clothing; and includes a provision for unexpected events."
- KC's View:
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Unilever CEO Alan Jope positions the commitment as critical to addressing issues of social inequality, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
This is yet another example of corporations taking positions - sometimes going out of their way to take positions - that have a social/cultural component, though Unilever also would argue that long-term this is good business.
