Asda has announced an £80m investment in retail pay, which will increase hourly rates for store workers to £12.60 from October.
The move will benefit 115,000 Asda and Asda Express workers with an increase of 4.7% in three phases, taking rates from £12.04 to £12.60 per hour.
Hourly rates for colleagues at stores inside the M25 will rise to £13.82.
Asda said that since its takeover by TDR and the Issa brothers in 2021, it had invested more than half a billion in retail pay, with the hourly base rate rising by 35% from £9.36 to £12.60 over the period.
The supermarket also announced a string of enhanced family-friendly staff policies. These included, effective from July, enhanced maternity and adoption leave pay, increased company maternity and adoption leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, and doubled paternity leave from two weeks to four weeks at full pay.
“We’re proud to have invested more than £500m in retail pay over the last four years,” said chief people officer Hayley Tatum. “Our colleagues are what makes Asda special, and this latest pay investment, plus an increased colleague discount and enhanced family-friendly policies, recognises the key role they play in serving customers each day.”
The new rates were agreed with Usdaw, the trade union that holds the mandate to negotiate pay with Asda in Asda Express stores, food service and Leon.
Usdaw national officer Jayne Allport said: “We are pleased to have secured an above Inflation increase and be able match the Real Living Wage for our members in Asda Express, Food Services and Leon.
”The cost of living continues to be a key concern, so the business’ decision to respond in such a positive manner is welcome. Our members are key workers delivering essential services, it is only right they are fairly rewarded with a living wage.”
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