A contract is not good value if the people delivering it struggle to afford the basics.
This Living Wage Week, Tarem Services is encouraging organisations that procure cleaning, construction labour and other essential services to recognise fair pay as part of service quality, responsible procurement and social value.
Why Tarem Services Exists
Tarem Services was founded in 1999 to tackle in-work poverty, particularly among cleaners.
We recognised the challenges faced by people working across multiple sites, travelling long distances and often receiving relatively few paid hours. Despite providing essential services, financial stability remained difficult to achieve.
Our belief remains unchanged: people performing essential work deserve fair pay, dignity and respect.
As a social enterprise, we believe business success should be measured by more than financial performance. It should also improve workforce wellbeing and contribute positively to the communities we serve.
Tackling In-Work Poverty Takes More Than One Employer
The Living Wage movement began in East London in 2001, with cleaners among the low-paid workers campaigning for better wages. Twenty-five years later, significant challenges remain.
According to the Living Wage Foundation’s A Real Living Wage: 25 Years In – Impact Report (2026), 4.4 million UK jobs are still paid below the real Living Wage.
That is why individual commitments are not enough. Organisations commissioning outsourced services also influence the pay and working conditions of the people delivering them. When contracts are awarded primarily on the lowest price, unrealistic budgets squeeze wages and working conditions.
Fair pay must therefore be considered when contracts are designed and awarded, not after the price has been agreed.
Three Questions for Responsible Procurement
Living Wage Week 2026 is a chance for every organisation to reconsider how it procures essential services.
- Is the contract priced to support fair wages? Sustainable pricing should recognise the true cost of delivering a reliable, professional service.
- Are working conditions considered alongside cost? Fair pay, reasonable working arrangements and employee wellbeing all matter.
- Does procurement recognise social value? Responsible employment practices should be part of how organisations assess potential suppliers.
These decisions affect the livelihoods of the people who clean workplaces, support construction projects and deliver essential services every day.
Turning Awareness Into Action
The Living Wage movement has made meaningful progress, but in-work poverty remains. At Tarem Services, tackling it has been central to our purpose since 1999.
Responsible procurement can help create a fairer environment for workers, and a more sustainable one for the services that depend on them.
Fair pay should not be an afterthought. It should be part of what responsible business means.
This Living Wage Week, we encourage every organisation to ask: does our procurement reflect the value of the people behind the service?
Source: Living Wage Foundation, A Real Living Wage: 25 Years In – Impact Report (2026).