The Global Living Wage Coalition is a unique knowledge-action partnership working to enable collaborative action to achieve a decent standard of living for working people and their families worldwide.
The GLWC is organized as a partnership between two independent networks with complementary missions and work: the Anker Living Wage and Income Research Institute (Anker Research Institute) and the GLWC Action Network (Action Network).
Researchers and research institutions participate in the Anker Research Institute with the joint mission of engaging in and disseminating high quality research, analysis, and training related to living wage and living income (based on the Anker methodology) to inform and influence companies, empower working people, and shape public policy. The Action Network is a platform for living wage action, comprised of organisations such as non-profits, charities, government entities, etc. The networks come together through the GLWC to steer the partnership towards achievement of shared objectives and commitments.
The Anker Living Wage and Income Research Institute
The Anker Research Institute consists of researchers and research institutions from around the world with the goal of generating knowledge to improve the living standards of working people and their families to a decent level throughout global supply chains.
The Anker Research Institute is led by Richard Anker and Martha Anker, and is currently hosted by Social Accountability International (SAI) in New York, USA. For more information, please visit ankerresearchinstitute.org or contact inquiries@ankerinstitute.org.
Creators of the Anker Methodology
Richard Anker
Richard Anker holds a PhD in economics from the University of Michigan. He is retired after 30 years with the International Labour Organization (ILO) where he was a senior economist. He is presently a senior research fellow at the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) in the University of Massachusetts (Amherst).
Martha Anker
Martha Anker holds a M.A. in mathematics from the University of Michigan. She is retired after 25 years with the World Health Organization (WHO) where she was an epidemiologist and statistician. After retirement from WHO, she taught in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences in the University of Massachusetts (Amherst).
Our Researchers
Our Researchers
The Anker Research Institute has built a global network of researchers from around the world that are trained in the Anker Methodology and author benchmark estimates in their areas of the globe as well as assisting and advising on various work conducted by the GLWC.
The GLWC Action Network
The Action Network is a platform for living wage action, advocacy and learning, grounded in the Anker methodology. It unites organisations in an effort to implement and advocate for action on living wages. The Action Network’s mission is to undertake individual and collective action in a non-competitive environment towards a decent standard of living for workers and their families worldwide. The Action Network works through collaboration and alignment with the Anker Research Institute and with companies, trade unions, civil society organisations and governments working towards wage improvement.
The Action Network has two categories of membership: leading and supporting. Through their own organisational activities, as well as providing financial and in-kind support, all members commit to advance action and learning on living wages, contribute to GLWC and Action Network goals, and support the Anker Research Institute and Anker Methodology. Leading members provide additional in-kind and financial support, as well as play a role in GLWC governance and strategic planning.
The GLWC Action Network is currently housed at ISEAL in London, U.K.
ISEAL
ISEAL supports the on-going work of the GLWC and serves as host to the Action Network. Kristin Komives, Director, Programmes, represents ISEAL at GLWC level, and Vidya Rangan, Senior Manager, Impacts and Evidence, manages the Action Network secretariat. Contact Vidya for more information on the GLWC Action Network: vidya@isealalliance.org.
Leading Members
Fairtrade International
Represented in GLWC and Action Network governance by Wilbert Flinterman, Senior Advisor, Workers’ Rights, and Trade Union Relations, and Andreas Kratz, Director, Global Products, Programs, and Policy. Contact Wilbert to learn more about how Fairtrade is moving forward on living wage: w.flinterman@fairtrade.net.
Rainforest Alliance
Represented in GLWC and Action Network governance by Anny Stoikova, Global Lead, Living Wage, and Emma Harbour, Global Director, Advocacy and Themes. Contact Anny to learn more about how Rainforest Alliance is moving forward on living wage: AStoikova@ra.org.
In January 2018, the Rainforest Alliance merged with UTZ, another founding member of the GLWC. The UTZ and Rainforest Alliance certification programs continue to run in parallel until at least 2019. Throughout this website, UTZ and the Rainforest Alliance are listed separately where they have been involved in funding/implementing different studies and projects to date.
Social Accountability International (SAI)
Represented in GLWC and Action Network governance by Rochelle Zaid, Executive Advisor, Standards & Impacts, and Jane Hwang, President and CEO. Contact Rochelle to learn more about how SAI is moving forward on living wage: RZaid@sa-intl.org.
Supporting Members
Aquaculture Stewardship Council
Represented in the Action Network by Clare Stevens, Senior Coordinator, Social standards. Contact Clare to learn more about how ASC is moving forward with living wage: Clare.Stevens@asc-aqua.org
Bonsucro
Represented in the Action Network by Rafael Seixas, Membership Manager. Contact Rafael to learn more about how Bonsucro is moving forward on living wage: rafael@bonsucro.com
Fair Labor Association
Represented in the Action Network by Tiffany Rogers, Director, Fair Compensation and Member Engagement. Contact Tiffany Rogers to learn more about Fair Labor Association is moving forward on living wage: trogers@fairlabor.org.
Fair Trade USA
Represented in the Action Network by Victoria Solbert, Director, Standards and Implementation Resources. Contact Victoria to learn more about Fair Trade USA is moving forward on living wage: vsolbert@fairtradeusa.org
Union for Ethical BioTrade
Represented in the Action Network by Karène Volpato,
Ethical Sourcing Expert, Verification Programme Coordinator.
The GLWC Action Network is open to new membership applications, for more information contact: vidya@isealalliance.org.
