Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 3 October 2019 to Question 291066 on Collective Bargaining, whether she plans to encourage companies operating in the UK to ensure that workers in other countries in its supply chain are able to engage in collective bargaining.

The introduction of the National Living Wage (NLW) in 2016 gave low-paid workers the fastest pay rise in almost 20 years. In April 2019 it increased again by 4.9% to £8.21. Last month, my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exzchequer pledged that the NLW will increase even further, reaching two-thirds of median earnings within five years, provided economic conditions allow.

The NLW and National Minimum Wage (NMW) are the statutory minimum rates of pay and apply within the UK. We encourage employers to pay more than the minimum where they can afford to do so.

Collective bargaining is largely a matter for individual employers, their employees and their trade unions. The UK complies with its international obligations, including International Labour Organisation conventions on the right to organise and collective bargaining, and we encourage other countries to do the same.