We’ve paid a living wage to our employees since 2020 and are now collaborating with our direct suppliers to further drive progress in our supply chain. We have set a goal for suppliers representing 50% of our procurement spend to sign Unilever’s Living Wage Promise by 2026.
At Unilever, our long-term ambition is to help provide a decent livelihood for people in our value chain, including by earning a living wage. We recognise that as a global company with millions depending on our success to make a living, we have an opportunity and responsibility to help them achieve a decent livelihood.
Willem Uijen, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Unilever
Building on Unilever’s living wage journey
Through our journey to ensure direct employees receive a living wage, we know there are clear business benefits. These include enhanced productivity and lower staff turnover, reduced risk of supply chain disruption and a stronger organisational reputation.
By collaborating across our value chain and stakeholder network, we can accelerate progress on living wage within our supply chains and help build more resilient and thriving economies that benefit everyone.
Unilever’s success depends on strong, resilient communities. We strive to create an environment where everyone connected to our business can thrive. Real progress requires collective action: businesses setting bold goals, policymakers advancing fair pay, and investors championing responsible practices. Together, we can drive lasting, positive change.
Carolina Singer, Global Head of Social Sustainability and Responsible Business, Unilever
Through our Living Wage Supplier Programme, we are onboarding our suppliers on living wage and equipping them with the tools, resources and knowledge to be able to effectively take action.
As part of the Programme, we are asking our suppliers to:
Sign the Living Wage Promise: Take the first step on the living wage journey by assessing wage gaps, creating action plans to close them, and sharing progress with us.
Respond to the Living Wage Questionnaire: Report living wage gaps via our Supplier Portal (login required) and share your evaluation findings, reflect on where you are in your living wage journey, including the parameters used to access any potential gaps, and outline your current strategies, support needs, and how you plan to track progress over time.
Stay engaged with Procurement: Maintain ongoing dialogue with your Unilever Procurement partner for guidance, collaboration, and support throughout your living wage journey.
Many of our suppliers have signed the Promise. Here are some of them:
Key resources available
To empower our suppliers on their living wage journey, we offer comprehensive support and have developed a suite of practical resources alongside leading partners, including IDH. All resources are openly accessible, enabling our partners to advance living wages in their supply chain; to adopt and implement with confidence.
Living Wage Playbook
The playbook touches upon key topics under living wage, the steps to take and provides links to a number of resources.
Suppliers can join pre-scheduled calls with Unilever Procurement to discuss their living wage questions.
5-step Implementation Process:
Access IDH’s roadmap to understand how to start your company’s living wage journey.
Partner Event Recordings:
In 2024, we hosted Global Living Wage Partner events in collaboration with IDH, to provide suppliers with insights into living wage, Unilever’s strategy, and the support available to them. Watch the full recording.
Living Wage Benchmark Data:
Unilever, alongside nearly a dozen other multinationals, funded WageIndicator to publish its living wage estimates for 170+ countries and 3,000+ regions. We encourage the use of any IDH recognised benchmarks which are called out in the Living Wage playbook, including WageIndicator’s estimates. View the full list here.
Additional resources for suppliers
Living Wage in your country
Watch your country partner event launch for additional guidance from IDH and insights from guest suppliers
On-demand learning modules that will be available in 2026.
If you’re a supplier to Unilever and are interested in taking part in our programme, please contact your Unilever Procurement partner or reach out to social.sustainability@unilever.com.
To see our goals on Climate, Nature, Plastics and Livelihoods, please visit our Sustainability Hub.
