Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Marmite maker spreads the joy
UNILEVER VOWS TO HELP 5M SUPPLY STAFF
UNILEVER has pledged to stop doing business with suppliers that don’t pay its staff a living wage, in a move that will affect up to five million people worldwide.
The consumer goods giant, which owns Marmite, Dove soap, Ben & Jerry’s, Domestos and scores of other household brands, wants everyone supplying it with goods or services to comply with its new policy by 2030.
Unilever already pays its staff the living wage and its new policy on suppliers’ pay practices is designed to help the most vulnerable workers and lift them out of poverty.
It believes it will benefit too, as it says consumers increasingly expect companies to operate to the highest standards and help society as a whole.
Alan Jope, Unilever’s chief executive, estimated that its move will be a boost to three to five million workers. Globally, the company has just under 60,000 suppliers. Speaking on Sky News, he said: “First we’ll ask them, then we’ll demand and we’ll stop doing business with them”, if suppliers continue to refuse.
He added that while Unilever does not expect to “just sack suppliers” initially, it will start placing orders with companies that pay their employees well.
Additionally, Unilever has committed to spend £1.8million a year by 2025 on small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) suppliers that are run by people from minority groups in a bid to improve diversity. It will also provide these SMES with access to skills, financing, and networking opportunities.