aldi first supermarket to pay the living wage

Firm rewards staff for driving growth

ALDI has become the first supermarket in Ireland to pay workers the recommended hourly living wage of €11.70.

The retailer, which claims to be the best payer in the sector, said some Irish staff already earn up to €14 an hour.

The rate is effective as of February 1 and is a 20c increase on entrylevel pay for shop assistants, stock assistants and caretakers. It is also substantially more than the current Irish minimum wage, which rose by 25c to €9.55 per hour this month. Aldi managing director Giles Hurley said: “Our store colleagues are the cornerstone of our business. Without their hard work and dedication 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.”

It comes as Aldi captured an 11.2% share of Ireland’s grocery market.

The firm also recently announced a three-year €100million new store opening programme, as well as an investment of €60million in revamping and refurbishing stores.

ALDI is to be commended for its decision to pay its workers the recommended hourly living wage of €11.70.

The German retailer’s rate is well above the minimum wage of €9.55 per hour which is scandalously-low in a country where the cost of living is among the highest in Europe.

The Government has been boasting about the country’s economic recovery but the vast majority of ordinary of people feel no better off. It is now past time they were rewarded. Other employers should follow Aldi’s lead and treat their workers with the respect and dignity they deserve by paying the living wage.