Lidl has revealed that it is investing over £10m to increase the hourly wages of staff working in its 770 stores in the UK.
The discounter, which this month celebrates its 25th anniversary since entering the UK, will increase entry-level pay from £9.00 to £9.30 per hour outside of London and £10.55 to £10.75 within the M25, going up to £11.70, depending on location and length of service.
The move will benefit over 19,000 Lidl employees, with their pay being between 13-30% higher than the Government’s current ‘National Living Wage’.
Christian Härtnagel, CEO at Lidl GB, said: “During this time of such uncertainty, we feel fortunate to be able to make this investment in our colleagues, and give them peace of mind with regards to their salary.
“Our hourly paid employees represent over 80% of our entire workforce, and are the absolute backbone of our business. It is because of them that we continue to be the fastest supermarket, and are able to realise our ambitious expansion plans. This move is, therefore, testament to the unwavering commitment that each and every one of them puts into their work on a daily basis.”
The new wages will come into effect from Lidl’s new financial year in March 2020.
This discounter is planning to open another 230 stores in the UK over the next three years as it pushes towards its recently revised target of 1,000 stores by the end of 2023.
