Walmart, the world’s largest private employer, has announced that it is to raise wages to at least $9 per hour, $1.75 above the US minimum wage, for more than 500,000 employees who work in US stores.
Under pressure from labour groups, chief executive Doug McMillion at Walmart commented in a blog post to staff "We ... made a few changes aimed at productivity and efficiency that undermined the feeling of ownership some of you have for your business.
"When we take a step back, it's clear to me that one of our highest priorities must be to invest more in our people this year."
Emily Wells, a leader of a group known as OUR Walmart which is supported by traditional US labour unions commented: "We are so proud that by standing together we won raises for 500,000 Walmart workers, whose families desperately need better pay and regular hours from the company we make billions for."
By February 1st 2016, Walmart has vowed to raise wages for full-time staff to $10 per hour for part-time staff.
President Barack Obama supports raising the federal minimum wage, as he said in a comment when addressing Congress “If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it.
"If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise."
