The UK’s biggest retailers have an important role to play in boosting the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of workers to help shape fairer, healthier societies.

However, the business model for the UK retail sector is built on poverty pay and insecure contracts. Household names such as Next and JD Sports are failing to provide their workforce with a real Living Wage, leaving millions of workers living in poverty and struggling to afford basics like heating and food.

This doesn’t just harm low-paid workers’ quality of life, it harms the economy too by driving inequality, hindering productivity and adding pressure on state resources through increased health and welfare cost, posing a threat to the long-term interests of shareholders.

In our briefing, we have published new guidance for investors in the UK retail sector warning them of the long-term financial risks of failing to pay the real Living Wage, and setting out a responsible investment approach to raise standards.

We believe in the fair treatment of workers, and this briefing is part of our work with investors to demand that companies change their employment practices to ensure everyone has access to decent work.