Amazon Expands Operations in Canada; Raises Employee Wages

 

 

Leading online retailer Amazon has announced a one-dollar increase in the hourly wages of its operations staff in Canada. With this hike, effective September 27, the average base hourly wage for Amazon employees will rise to 26.27 Canadian dollars—a four percent increase compared to the previous year. The company states that under the new rates, a full-time employee working 40 hours a week will earn an average annual income of over 54,000 dollars.

This announcement, which entails an estimated cost of over 78 million dollars, is part of Amazon's comprehensive wage review. Additionally, starting October 1, employees in Canada will receive a 10 percent discount on essential goods and groceries purchased via the Amazon website. The move aims to boost employee engagement and efficiency ahead of the upcoming Christmas and New Year shopping seasons.

Meanwhile, the prominent labor union 'Unifor' has responded differently to this wage hike. The union pointed out that the company abruptly announced the salary hike just as the negotiations—mediated by the British Columbia Labour Relations Board—were reaching their final stage. Union leaders believe that the strong interventions and struggles for rights by the workers' collectives drove the company to take this decision.