Calculating a Living Wage

A regional calculation of a living wage is necessary in order to ensure workers receive a decent wage. The Asia Floor Wage calculates a floor level that no wage in Asia should drop below.

How is the Asia Floor Wage calculated?

A Living Wage calculation across a region is key in ensuring workers receive a decent wage, but also that wage differences do not mean companies pull out of one country to move manufacturing to a country with lower costs - the so called race to the bottom.

Living wage calculations must take into account some common factors including the number of family members to be supported, the basic nutritional needs of a worker and other basic needs including housing, healthcare, education and some basic savings.

Clean Clothes Campaign is part of the Asia Floor Wage Alliance – an alliance of Asian trade unions and labour groups who have calculated a living wage formula for Asia.

The 2013 Asia Floor Wage figure is PPP$725.

Click here to see how this translates to local currencies.


  • In Asia food costs account for half a workers monthly outgoings.

The Asia Floor Wage is calculated in PPP$ - Purchasing Power Parity $, which are an imaginary World Bank currency built on the consumption of goods and services by people, allowing standard of living between countries to be compared regardless of the national currency. 

The Asia Floor Wage Alliance carry out regular food basket research in the region to calculate new Asia Floor Wage figures. 


Living Wage calculations outside of Asia



Clean Clothes Campaign partners are working on defining and calculating living wages for other garment producing regions.