U.S. e-commerce leader Amazon.com Inc. announced Tuesday it is raising the minimum wage to 15 U.S. dollars an hour for all of its full-time and part-time workers across the United States.
The company said the rise in the minimum hourly wage, which takes effect on Nov. 1, will benefit more than 250,000 Amazon employees and over 100,000 seasonal holiday workers to be hired at Amazon sites nationwide this year, including associates employed by temporary agencies.
"We listened to our critics, thought hard about what we wanted to do, and decided we want to lead," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon Founder and CEO.
Amazon became the second 1-trillion dollar company in September after Apple crossed the trillion-dollar threshold a month earlier. It has been under fire over its pay for low-ranking workers, including criticism from the White House and senior Senator Bernie Sanders, who had bashed Bezos for making billions of dollars of personal fortune but paying low wages to Amazon workers.
However, the top U.S. online retailer based in Seattle, Washington State, said Tuesday that its public policy team will begin advocating for an increase in the federal minimum wage.
"We're excited about this change and encourage our competitors and other large employers to join us," Bezos said of the latest wage hike announced just ahead of the upcoming holiday season this year.
Jay Carney, senior vice president of Amazon Global Corporate Affairs said the firm is seeking to gain Congressional support for an increase in the federal minimum wage.
"The current rate of 7.25 dollars was set nearly a decade ago," he added.
"We intend to advocate for a minimum wage increase that will have a profound impact on the lives of tens of millions of people and families across this country," Carney noted.
On top of the wage hike, Amazon said its employees will continue to receive the company's industry-leading benefits, including comprehensive healthcare such as medical, dental and vision coverage, and up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave.
Amazon employs about 575,000 workers worldwide, with more than 50 percent of them hired in 2017. Enditem
The company said the rise in the minimum hourly wage, which takes effect on Nov. 1, will benefit more than 250,000 Amazon employees and over 100,000 seasonal holiday workers to be hired at Amazon sites nationwide this year, including associates employed by temporary agencies.
"We listened to our critics, thought hard about what we wanted to do, and decided we want to lead," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon Founder and CEO.
Amazon became the second 1-trillion dollar company in September after Apple crossed the trillion-dollar threshold a month earlier. It has been under fire over its pay for low-ranking workers, including criticism from the White House and senior Senator Bernie Sanders, who had bashed Bezos for making billions of dollars of personal fortune but paying low wages to Amazon workers.
However, the top U.S. online retailer based in Seattle, Washington State, said Tuesday that its public policy team will begin advocating for an increase in the federal minimum wage.
"We're excited about this change and encourage our competitors and other large employers to join us," Bezos said of the latest wage hike announced just ahead of the upcoming holiday season this year.
Jay Carney, senior vice president of Amazon Global Corporate Affairs said the firm is seeking to gain Congressional support for an increase in the federal minimum wage.
"The current rate of 7.25 dollars was set nearly a decade ago," he added.
"We intend to advocate for a minimum wage increase that will have a profound impact on the lives of tens of millions of people and families across this country," Carney noted.
On top of the wage hike, Amazon said its employees will continue to receive the company's industry-leading benefits, including comprehensive healthcare such as medical, dental and vision coverage, and up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave.
Amazon employs about 575,000 workers worldwide, with more than 50 percent of them hired in 2017. Enditem
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