Primark announces big pay change for all UK staff from today
Popular UK retailer Primark has revealed it will be rolling out a major pay change across all of its UK stores from the start of April in response to the thousands of people struggling to cope with the cost of living crisis. In a move that will affect 26,000 of its retail assistants, the budget clothing retailer has confirmed the change will be effective in all stores from Saturday, April 1, reports Manchester Evening News. All stores in England, Wales and Scotland will see the change introduced with some Primark workers being paid more than others depending on where they are located.
The average pay rise across the discount clothes retailer will be 12%, which will take pay to GBP11 an hour for staff across England, Scotland and Wales. The pay for staff based in London will rise to GBP11.51 an hour. READ MORE: Ex-Primark employee shares grim experience while working in changing room
Despite many companies feeling the squeeze of changing economic times, this is the second pay rise Primark has given staff in the last two years with the retailer having also upped wages by 12% last year. Additionally, Primark will also be removing age-related pay rates for those under 23. This means that retail staff at Primark will be paid the same wage for the work they do.
Before, Primark paid their staff dependent on their age, which was in line with the Government’s rates of pay with National Living Wage being paid to those over 23 years, and minimum wage being paid to those under. The wage increases for Primark staff are over the UK’s Living Wage from April 2023-24 which is GBP10.42. The minimum wage is then paid at different rates for those aged between 21-22, 18-20, and those under 18.
You have to be 16 years old to get a job at Primark. Primark said the wage increase follows the retailer’s plan announced last November of investing at least GBP140million in the UK high street over the next two years. Part of this plan also includes the opening of four new stores which will create 850 new jobs.
The high-street fashion chain has announced plans to double the size of its store in the Westfield City Shopping Centre in Stratford, London. The Stratford store will expand from two floors to four, increasing its size from 45,100sq ft to 81,000sq ft Primark says this move will create 250 new jobs.
On the Stratford expansion, Kari Rodgers Primark’s retail director said: “After setting out an ambitious investment plan a few months ago, it’s exciting that we can now reveal another one of the stores set to benefit. “We’re looking forward to extending our offering at Westfield and giving shoppers in Stratford even more of the great style and incredible value they love the most.” We send out the biggest stories in an email every day.
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