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The new annual report of the Platform Living Wage Financials (PLWF) has been published – Living wages gain momentum on the political stage. The report describes the status of the theme within the clothing and footwear industry and the food agriculture sector and how financial institutions work together to promote living wages in global chains. PLWF shows that engagement and active dialogue with companies lead to significant changes on the work floor.
Key insights from the PLWF report:
- There is progress on living wages in both the clothing and footwear sector and the food, agriculture and retail sectors. However, half of the assessed companies continue to lag behind in the lowest categories.
- Policies and collaboration are still not leading to sufficient measurable improvements in wages. Although policies, grievance mechanisms and participation in collaborative initiatives are increasingly in place, there is often a lack of transparency, consistent data and effective indicators.
- The focus must shift from commitments to concrete, measurable action. Increasing political attention, such as the 2025 political declaration from the UN Second World Summit for Social Development, 2026 presents an opportunity to turn ambitions into structural change.
The role of VBDO at PLWF
VBDO is one of the driving forces within PLWF. We are committed to making investors and companies aware of their responsibility for fair wages. Through knowledge exchange, benchmarks and targeted dialogue, we keep the pressure on and drive continuous improvement.
PLWF Annual Report 2025
Curious about the insights and challenges? Read the full report here and discover where your organization can contribute to a fair wage for all.
