Amazon has “listened to its critics” and drastically increased pay for 37,000 British workers.
The web giant said on Tuesday that it would increase its minimum wage for employees across the UK to at least £9.50 an hour outside London, and £10.50 in the capital.
The move will affect all Amazon’s workers – including seasonal and temporary staff employed via agencies. A similar increase is planned in the United States.
Most workers at Amazon’s UK warehouses currently receive £8 an hour, dependent on their location.
The issue of low pay at Amazon was highlighted when investigations found multiple cases where workers were taking home less than the minimum wage after paying for essential expenses.
HuffPost UK found workers at the firm’s warehouse in Rugeley, Staffs, took home less than £7.83 after paying for the “benefit” of a special bus service to the rural site.
The Sunday Times also reported how its undercover reporter took home less than the minimum wage after paying for expenses while working at one of the firm’s Scottish sites.
The new wage, which is higher than the Living Wage Foundation’s suggested rates, will come into place next month, just as Amazon ramps up recruitment for its busy Black Friday and Christmas trading period.
Amazon’s billionaire founder, Jeff Bezos, said: “We listened to our critics, thought hard about what we wanted to do, and decided we want to lead.”
The firm’s boss in Britain, Doug Gurr, said in a statement: “We’re excited to announce Amazon is raising our minimum wage for all full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary UK employees—effective November 1.”