Lidl to pay staff Living Wage of €11.50 an hour

“This would bring them to a level that is more reflective of enjoying a better standard of living”.

He said: “We are delighted to be the first major nationwide employer to champion the Living Wage in Ireland”.

He said the company offer a range of benefits to its employees such as paid maternity and paternity leave, health screening and opportunities for training, development and career progression. Indeed 43% of current store management started as store assistants. But Lidl insists the move won’t lead to price rises.

Welcoming Lidl’s commitment to introduce the Living Wage, Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton said: “I congratulate Lidl on its commitment to introduce the Living Wage to all its staff. While I understand that the vast majority of Lidl workers now earn in excess of the Living Wage, more than 700 employees will be getting a pay rise as a result of this move”.

Downey said everyone was entitled to a living wage, but not at the expense of someone else in the supply chain.

It is the rate calculated by academics as the level of pay that will give workers enough for a basic standard of living.

However, its position in Northern Ireland became a PR disaster with a few consumers threatening a boycott and trade unions planning protests outside shops.

“We are particularly pleased that Lidl’s adoption of the living wage will extend to their workforce in the Republic of Ireland”.

This is well above the National Living Wage of £7.20 set by the Government, which comes into effect next year.

The living wage is an independently measured amount which is deemed socially acceptable.

Lidl had previously announced it was planning to implement the minimum wage as recommended by the Living Wage Foundation of £8.20 an hour to employees in England, Scotland and Wales, with staff working in London to be paid £9.35 per hour. They will now earn a minimum of £8.20, rising to £8.80 within three years.