Driving the living wage agenda: IDH’s commitment to making living wages mainstream
We believe that living wage is a key element in solving several of today's social development challenges, from reducing inequality to advancing human rights and driving economic empowerment.
IDH is focusing its efforts across global platforms, advocating for living wages to be recognised as an essential pillar of sustainable economic progress. Through strategic partnerships, sector-wide collaboration, and practical tools, IDH is helping turn commitment into action, supporting companies, governments, and civil society in embedding living wages into global value chains.
Living wages recognised in UN Summit political declaration
After sustained advocacy, living wages have been included in the Second World Summit for Social Development political declaration. The Doha Political Declaration now recognises living wages as essential for raising living standards and promoting inclusive growth, marking a critical step toward turning commitment into concrete action.
This is a vital step toward ensuring decent work and a just transition for all.
Exactly one year ago, the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) inaugural Social Benchmark revealed a stark reality: only 4% of the world’s 2,000 most influential companies pay – or have a target to pay – their workers a living wage.
That’s why IDH, together with WBA – and in collaboration with United Nations Global Compact, The Business Commission to Tackle Inequality, Unilever, Shift Project and the Platform Living Wage Financials – issued a multi-stakeholder call to action urging UN Member States to prioritise living wages in the WSSD2 process. This milestone reflects a growing global consensus: living wages must become the norm, not the exception.
Can business be a force for social good?
The size of the challenges we face demands bold, systemic change. And while governments and civil society play critical roles, the private sector holds unique power to drive inclusive and sustainable growth. Business decisions already shape social outcomes for hundreds of millions of people. With over 80% of global trade flowing through value chains that provide livelihoods for more than 450 million people, there can be no doubt that how businesses source, pay, and invest determines whether growth is inclusive or exclusive.
Read about how prioritising social good can lead to shared prosperity
Keep living wages on the global agenda
Building on the recognition of living wages within the Doha Political Declaration as essential for raising living standards and promoting inclusive growth, WBA and IDH, alongside partners including the United Nations Global Compact, the Business Commission to Tackle Inequality, Unilever, Shift, and the Platform Living Wage Financials, will continue working to keep living wages on the global agenda and move from commitment to implementation. We invite all stakeholders, from businesses and investors to policymakers and civil society, to stand with us. Support the call to action.
Living wages for socio-economic development
The discussion around the living wage concept has gained global momentum, influencing policies and shaping business strategies in meaningful ways. During a recent webinar, the World Benchmarking Alliance and IDH explored how the concept of living wages has evolved, the key initiatives driving it forward and where it’s headed next.
Watch the webinar, and hear from speakers as Charlotte Bernard, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands; Fransje Putts, MN (Platform for Living Wage Financials) Marina Leal, Natura & Co.; Matteo Squire, Unilever; and Maurice van Beers, CNV about their insights on this growing movement.
In general, human rights issues are hard to quantify. In finance, there’s a lot of focus on numbers, and living wages are one of the few human rights topics that can actually be quantified. This helps everyone to work toward the same goal. Being able to quantify living wages also provides a measure of what companies are doing and shows where the gaps for a broader implementation of human rights are.
Advancing living wages for social justice as part of the Second World Summit for Social Development
In November 2025, at the Second World Summit for Social Development, IDH and partners are spotlighting living wages as a human rights and development imperative, exploring practical pathways for implementation, and urging collective action to drive business resilience and social justice across global value chains.
About IDH Living Wage work
At IDH, we believe that living wage is a key element in solving several of today's social development challenges, from reducing inequality to advancing human rights and driving economic empowerment. Achieving living wages is not just a goal but a shared responsibility. We work closely with businesses, civil society, and international organisations like the ILO and UN Global Compact to advance living wages on the global stage and to create lasting positive impact on workers' livelihoods. From agriculture to aquaculture, we support companies on the ground with practical tools, tailored guidance, and local-to-global convening. Our role is not to claim answers, but to help turn commitment into action.
Check the Living Wage Roadmap for more information.