Lidl Ireland has announced a pay rise for its staff, as well as 700 new jobs becoming available in Ireland this year.
From March 1, all of the budget grocer’s employees will benefit from an increase on average of between €2,000-€2,500 per year.
This marks a welcome 7.5 per cent pay increase for employees during one of the most challenging times for people nationwide.
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This increase comes after the retailer made a commitment in October to pay its staff the new Living Wage rate of €13.85, which was estimated by the Living Wage Technical Group.
Lidl’s €14 million investment in pay increases for its existing workforce in the Republic of Ireland comes alongside the creation of 700 jobs around Ireland.
This year will see the opening of a whole host of new Lidl stores in Kilkenny, Ballincollig, Bettystown, and Limerick we well as the completion of a €75 million extension of the retailer’s Distribution Centre in Mullingar.
Maeve McCleane, chief people officer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said that not only are they looking after the best interest of their staff members, but also their customers, and have vowed to keep prices as low as possible.
"We have always been committed to keeping our prices as low as we possibly can and ensuring that any cost because of an increase in (the price) of doing business is not passed on to our customers," she said.
Welcoming the 700 new jobs at Lidl in Ireland, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, TD said: "Lidl’s decision to hire an additional 700 employees this year is a real vote of confidence in the company’s long-term commitment to the Irish retail sector and the Irish economy as a whole.
"Given the current cost-of-living pressures that everyone is feeling, I’m delighted to see that Lidl is investing in giving their workforce a pay rise to support them.
"I wish to congratulate the entire Lidl team on reaching the milestone of over 6,000 colleagues employed across the country, the company has a very impressive story of growth to tell since it first came to Ireland 20 years ago."
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