Primark is showing its appreciation for its 26,000 retail assistants with a pay rise, starting next week. The Irish retailer, known as Penneys in the Republic, is boosting hourly wages to £11 an hour in England, Scotland, and Wales, and £11.51 in London – a 12% raise compared to last year. This new salary scheme is set to go into effect on April 1st, when the national living wage of £10.42 kicks in for all 23+ workers.
Kari Rodgers, Primark’s UK retail director, said: “Our people are the heart of Primark, and their hard work and loyalty make us the brand customers know and love. We want our colleagues to be fairly compensated for their efforts, and this pay raise is our way of showing our commitment to investing in our people and stores as we continue to grow.”
In an effort to create a more equal workplace, Primark is doing away with lower aged-related pay bands for workers under 23. They are also investing £140 million over the next two years in UK high street stores, including four new stores and relocations and expansions in Westfield Stratford, Bradford, and High Wycombe. Primark’s parent company, Associated British Foods, runs 419 stores worldwide.
