Retailer Lidl UK raises staff pay for third time in 12 months

LONDON (Reuters) – The British arm of German supermarket group Lidl said it would lift wages by over 3% in June, giving thousands of workers a third pay rise in 12 months.

Lidl said on Friday it would raise pay for staff across Britain to 12.40 pounds per hour from 12 pounds per hour, while London-based staff would receive 13.65 pounds per hour, up from 13.55.

Pay rises at big employers like Lidl, which employs 32,000 people across Britain, are closely watched by the Bank of England, which said on Thursday it remains on guard because of still-strong growth in wages which add to inflationary pressure.

John Lewis and Co-op in March announced pay rises of 10% after the government raised the national living wage to 11.44 pounds an hour.

Lidl, part of Germany’s Schwarz retail group which is Britain’s the sixth biggest supermarket chain with an 8% share, said its latest increase would mean its staff continue to receive “industry-leading pay”.