Aldi now pays highest wages for entry-level store workers

A 20c hourly increase

ALDI Ireland has announced it will be giving workers a pay rise to a new minimum rate of €11.70 an hour – making their entry-level staff the best-paid supermarket workers in the country.

The increase will put Aldi workers in line with the living wage rate recommended by The Living Wage Technical Group.

The move to the living wage is the first of its kind in the sector, and comes into effect on February 1. It represents a 20c increase on the entrylevel pay for Aldi store assistants, stock assistants and caretakers.

Giles Hurley, group managing director of Aldi Ireland, said: ‘Our store colleagues are the cornerstone of our business. Without their hard work and dedication day in, day out, we would be unable to provide customers with the lowest grocery prices in Ireland. We are committed to offering the best pay and benefits in the industry and will continue to do so.’

The announcement follows a period of significant sustained sales growth and store expansion. Aldi is currently engaged in a three-year, €100million, new store opening programme, while also investing €60million in revamping and refurbishing its existing stores nationwide, introducing its Project Fresh design and layout. Aldi has now captured an 11.2% share of Ireland’s grocery market.

Tesco has also confirmed it will be moving to the living wage of €11.70 in March – a month after Aldi – in line with its new financial year.

A spokesperson for Tesco said: ‘We recognise and appreciate the role our team play in growing our business year on year and accordingly offer a market-leading benefits package to employees at all levels.’

Tesco has a 22.3% share of Ireland’s grocery market, according to the Kantar World Panel.

The Living Wage Technical Group was established in March 2014 and worked to establish a methodology for calculating the living wage for the country.

It is based on the idea that work should provide an adequate income which would afford individuals an acceptable standard of living.

Lidl, Dunnes and SuperValu did not respond when asked for a comment.