Tesco under fire over 'dragging feet' and 'it shouldn't have to be asked for'

James Rodger
·2-min read

Tesco has come under fire after its chief's pay more than DOUBLED to nearly £10 million. ShareAction charity plan to ask why Tesco boss’s pay is so high when it claims some staff do not receive a Real Living Wage.

The campaign group ShareAction is planning to question why Ken Murphy’s pay has more than doubled to £9.9m including bonuses. ShareAction claim contracted staff, such as cleaners and security, do not receive a Real Living Wage.

Mr Murphy said on Friday: “I accept I am well paid. My remuneration is set by the board as delegated by shareholders. Over two-thirds of it is variable and dependent on reaching long-term financial goals.” He added that Tesco was “really proud of fact we are a leading employer in terms of our total package for colleagues”.

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However, Dan Howard, the head of good work at ShareAction, said: “In a world where Tesco are making a £2.3bn profit a year, paying those who keep the stores safe and clean the real living wage shouldn’t have to be asked for – it should be automatic. Unfortunately, Tesco are dragging their feet on taking the right steps to pay its third-party contracted staff the living wage.

“Failing to recognise the financial hardship many of those who work for Tesco have faced during the cost of living crisis will damage Tesco’s reputation with both shareholders and customers.” In a trading update issued on Friday (June 14), Mr Murphy added there was a “gentle ongoing improvement in customer sentiment” in the UK.

He said this had been helped by a rise in the legal minimum wage that was was ahead of inflation. But despite the positive outlook, responsible investment NGO ShareAction is planning to questioning why Mr Murphy’s pay should double when contracted workers at its supermarket are poorly paid.

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