J Sainsbury PLC has said it will raise pay for its workers again as the supermarket giant looks to attract and retain staff, Reuters reported.
The company, the UK's second-largest grocer, said 127,000 hourly paid workers will get a 25p per hour increase from October 16, costing it £20mln, the newswire said. Sainsbury's hourly pay will go up from £10.00 to £10.25 and from £11.05 to £11.30 for those working in London.
The rise takes the pay increase for Sainsbury's frontline, hourly paid workers to 7.9% this year.
Sainsbury's said the rise, the first ever outside of its annual pay review, is designed to help its staff get through the cost of living crisis.
The grocer also said it is also giving its staff access to basic food items during shifts from the first week in October until the end of December and increased discounts at Sainsbury’s and Argos. That will cost it an additional £5mln, Reuters noted.
Other retailers, including market leader Tesco and John Lewis, are also upgrading perks to workers, enticing them with free food and essentials.
In April, Sainsbury's warned of a drop in profit this financial year as soaring inflation hits shoppers' spending.
In afternoon trading, Sainsbury's shares were down 2/1% at 209p.