Major supermarket to give workers a 10% pay rise from April
A MAJOR supermarket is giving thousands of its workers a pay rise.
Asda is increasing pay for retail staff by a total of 10% this year.
The supermarket giant to up its hourly rates for 115,000 of its staff from April 2 before increasing it again on July 2.
Its current hourly rate is £10.10, which will rise to £11 in April and £11.11 in July.
Rates for stores inside the M25 will increase from £11.27 currently to £12.28 in July.
The company said it is investing a record £141 million this year to boost hourly pay rates for staff who work across its 633 stores.
This follows an 8% pay increase for hourly-paid retail workers during 2022.
In addition, all eligible hourly-paid store staff who have been with Asda for more than three months will receive a bonus payment for 2022.
Asda said this amount will be confirmed at the end of February and we will update this story as soon as we know more.
The new rates of pay are higher than the government’s National Living Wage and the voluntary Real Living Wage recommended by the Living Wage Foundation.
Mohsin Issa, Asda’s co-owner, said: “We know that rising living costs are affecting customers and colleagues alike and recognise we have a responsibility to support them during these challenging times.
The retailer has also announced it is launching a new initiative to lock the prices on 600 popular brands and own label products.
It will run from February 21 to May 31.
It has also launched of a partnership with Quaker Oats to offer children a free warm breakfast in any of its 205 cafes during the February half term holidays.
The news of the pay rise comes just weeks after Aldi said it would give 7,000 of its warehouse staff a 20% pay increase compared to January last year.
Lidl boosted wages for 23,500 workers from October 1.
Entry-level hourly rates increased from £10.10 to £10.90 outside of London.
Hourly rates in London rose from £11.30 to £11.95 within the M25.
Asda is also set to create 10,000 jobs at its new convenience stores.
It is set to open 300 more Asda Express stores, creating thousands of jobs over the next four years.
Meanwhile, Asda shoppers have been rushing to buy a 12-piece dinner set which scans for just £1.30 at Asda tills.
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