Andy Burnham has outlined plans to make Greater Manchester the first UK region to pay all employees a living wage.
In one of his first big policy announcements since being re-elected, the Mayor says he hopes all firms will pay a living wage - currently calculated at £9.50 an hour - by the end of the decade.
Mr Burnham said: "People already in low-paying jobs with unpredictable hours were left exposed to the worst effects of the pandemic, on their health and on their livelihoods.
"Now, Greater Manchester is calling time on insecure and low-paid jobs. Working together with representatives from some of the hardest hit sectors of our economy, like our hospitality businesses and our health and social care sector, we are united by a common belief that no worker in Greater Manchester should be paid less than they need to live on.
"This is the first step towards a making sure everyone working in Greater Manchester has the dignity of decent work, paid a real living wage for real living hours. "
A 'Living Wage City-Region action group' has been set up with the Mayor working with businesses, unions, local authorities, faith groups and voluntary and charitable organisations.
The group held its first meeting on Wednesday.
Currently, around one in five jobs in Greater Manchester – roughly 200,000 – pay less than the real living wage.
Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Trafford and Wigan are all below the UK average for jobs that pay the real living wage.
Businesses will be asked to take part in Greater Manchester’s Good Employment Charter, a voluntary scheme aimed at raising employment standards and wages across the region.
