Nestlé has received accreditation as a living wage employer.
The accreditation covers approximately 8,000 employees across Nestlé UK and its sister organisations, which include Nestlé Nutrition, Nestlé Professional, Nestlé Waters and Nestlé Purina Petcare.
Staff who are employed directly by Nestlé UK are already paid the living wage.
The manufacturer will now work closely with contractors to ensure that their employees who work across Nestlé sites will also be paid the UK living wage by December 2017.
The living wage is currently set at £8.80 in London and £7.65 in the rest of the UK.
Fiona Kendrick, chairman and chief executive officer at Nestlé UK and Ireland, said: “We are proud to be the first mainstream manufacturer in the UK to become a living wage employer and see this as an opportunity to be a positive influence in our sector.
“As a major UK employer, we know that this is the right thing to do. Not only does it benefit our employees, but also the communities they live and work in.”
Rhys Moore, director of the Living Wage Foundation, added: “The accreditation of Nestlé as a living wage employer marks a significant milestone in the campaign to tackle in-work poverty.
“We hope that the leadership it has shown will encourage others in this industry to follow suit and improve conditions for those at the lowest end of the pay scale and sub-contracted staff.
“We are aware that Nestlé is going above and beyond the basic requirements of becoming an accredited employer, and is extending its commitment to graduate, internship and school leaver programmes.
“This is fantastic news, demonstrating that organisations that can, should do more wherever possible.”