Amazon raises hourly pay for warehouse and transportation employees By Reuters

(Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:)’s warehouse and transportation employees will obtain an elevated common beginning pay of greater than $19 per hour from $18, the world’s largest on-line retailer mentioned on Wednesday.

The wage hike would assist the corporate appeal to and retain employees in a tightening U.S. labor market as the height season for gifting will get underway.

Amazon mentioned the pay hikes would value the corporate practically $1 billion over the following 12 months.

Staff will now earn between $16 and $26 per hour relying on their place and placement in the USA, the corporate added.

Amazon’s minimal wage for hourly staff within the U.S. stays $15, a spokesperson advised Reuters.

The net retailer’s choice additionally comes as some employees proceed to push to unionize Amazon services in the USA. Just one Amazon facility has voted to unionize thus far.

The corporate is battling hovering inflation and excessive worker turnover as employees search increased wages to fulfill the rising value of residing.

Amazon had over 1.5 million full and part-time staff globally as of the quarter ended June 30, with a majority of employees in the USA.

Earlier on Wednesday, Amazon introduced new gadgets together with a lineup of voice-controlled gadgets, an up to date e-reader which customers can write on and a contactless gadget that may monitor folks’s sleep.