The call for living wages and health care in the tourism industry has gained momentum.
- Rochelle Turner from Intrepid Travel highlights that living wages are rare in the travel sector.
- A report on social sustainability underscores the need for fair pay and health care for workers.
- Intrepid Travel’s commitment to fair wages demonstrates the importance of caring for staff.
- The report suggests poor labour conditions hinder sustainability and business success in tourism.
The call for living wages and health care within the tourism industry has become increasingly urgent. Rochelle Turner, Intrepid Travel’s global B Corp impact manager, has articulated concerns regarding the industry’s shortcomings in providing these fundamental rights. She stated, “We know living wages are rare in the travel industry,” revealing the prevalence of uncontracted work. Her insights were shared during the launch of a new report focused on social sustainability, labour, and human rights in travel.
According to the report titled ‘Why the S in ESG Matters’, payment of a living wage remains an exception rather than the norm. A living wage should be the minimum income required for a worker to meet their basic needs. Turner’s comments elucidate the struggle within the travel sector to consistently provide fair compensation, citing Intrepid Travel’s own assessment where initially only 10 out of 3,000 staff were paid a living wage, a discrepancy that has since been rectified.
Intrepid Travel’s B Corp certification underlines the company’s dedication to high social and environmental standards, serving as an exemplar in the industry. Turner asserted, “To be a business that cares about its people, you have to pay people fairly.” Beyond wages, she emphasised health care as a fundamental right. She posed a rhetorical question underscoring her point: “You want people to treat your guests with respect, to show them that they enjoy their job. What better way to ensure that than if they’re being paid fairly and know that if something were to happen, they would have a safety net?”
The significance of measuring the social aspect in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria was stressed by Turner, who believes it is critical for responsible business operations. However, she highlighted a stark reality that in many regions, labour practices remain exploitative, with incidents such as passport confiscation and bonded labour, also known as debt slavery.
The extensive report, underpinned by research from Dr Anke Winchenbach of the University of Surrey, sponsored by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the IUF union, indicates poor labour conditions are not only obstructing sustainability but are also detrimental to recruitment and increasing business risks. The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of current social sustainability frameworks and recommends actionable strategies for the sector.
Ensuring living wages and health care for tourism industry workers is crucial for sustainable and ethical business practices.
