Greenwich Council are being urged to implement a London Living Wage across the borough and take tougher action on low pay.

More than one in five jobs in Greenwich are paid less than the London Living Wage of £9.15 an hour.

The London Living wage is the amount calculated as necessary to cover the basic cost of living in the capital.

Conservative parliamentary candidate for Greenwich and Woolwich, Matt Hartley will call on Greenwich council to develop proposals for a Living Wage Incentive Scheme at a council meeting next week.

Cllr Hartley said: "Paying the Living Wage is a win-win - it's good for employees and their families, and good for local businesses too, giving them a more financially secure workforce and helping them to retain the best people.

"I want to see Greenwich lead the way in the fight against low pay, and my proposal for a Living Wage Incentive Scheme would be a bold move that would make a huge difference to thousands of residents in Greenwich."

The move also follows news that 11 percent of people employed by Greenwich Council, either directly or through subsidiaries are paid less than the London Living Wage.

A spokeswoman for Greenwich Council said that tackling poverty and low pay is a key priority for the council and that the council has funded employment schemes to give residents the chance to earn the London Living Wage by working for the council.

The also said: "We are firmly committed to the principles of the London Living Wage and are an accredited employer with the London Living Foundation.

"As well as paying the London Living Wage to our own employees and staff employed through employment agencies, we encourage all our private contractors to also pay the London Living Wage."

The Living Wage Incentive will be propose by Cllr Hartley and seconded by Eltham South councillor Nuala Geary at the next Greenwich council meeting on January 28 at Woolwich Town Hall.