Thousands of workers in Greater Manchester are paid less than the real living wage - including key workers considered critical to the UK’s response to the coronavirus crisis.
The real living wage is a voluntary scheme devised by the Living Wage Foundation, and is calculated independently from the government.
It is based on costs such as food, clothing and household bills. It currently stands at £10.75 an hour for those working in London and £9.30 an hour for those outside the capital.
The scheme is separate to the statutory National Living Wage, which was raised to £8.72 an hour from April 1. Figures from the BBC Shared Data Unit show that 20 per cent of employees in Greater Manchester earn below the Living Wage Foundation rates - around