The Living Wage

Why a Living Wage?

A living wage can be defined as the wage required to keep a family above the poverty line. The main idea behind the living wage concept is to provide workers with a level of income that would allow for an acceptable standard of living. This would include being able to afford food, healthcare, housing, utilities and some degree of recreation.

History of the Living Wage

The first victory for proponents living wage movement occurred in Baltimore in 1994. The minimum wage businesses could pay individuals of the city was set at $6.10/hour.

Issues

Poverty

Pro

Con

Employment

Pro

Con

Productivity

Pro

Con

Privatization

Pro

Con