Retail wages continue to rise

The rise will come into effect in February and follows talks with shopworkers’ union Usdaw.

Convenience stores and supermarkets are now competing for workers in a tight jobs market.

Sainsbury’s pay will be higher in London, where it will vary between £11.30 and £11.95 an hour.

The increase follows a similar move by Aldi last year and will cost Sainsbury’s an extra £185m a year.

The increase was welcomed by Usdaw and means that most major supermarkets have raised wages in the last year.

Trade union the GMB has already stepped up the pressure on rival supermarket Asda, which it says is falling even further behind its competitors on wages after the Sainsbury’s announcement.

It says Asda retail workers receive just £10.10 per hour – the lowest paid of the big four.

GMB has been campaigning for Asda to increase pay to £11.50 per hour.

The union has also called on Asda bosses to provide free food to staff while they are on shift during the cost-of-living crisis.