Lidl to hike staff pay by a further 6pc, making it the best-paying supermarket employer in Ireland

This latest increase will result in every Lidl employee benefiting from an approximate 6pc pay rise, equal to, on average, €2,000 additional pay for every employee per year, the company said.

That is running well ahead of inflation which slowed to 2.2pc in February. Lidl said the increase will mean a further €15m in pay increases for its existing workforce in the Republic of Ireland, with £3m (€3.5m) in Northern Ireland.

Lidl was the first retailer to commit to paying the new Living Wage rate of €14.80 as recommended by the Living Wage Technical Group in October 2023. Lidl was also the first company in Ireland to adopt the Living Wage recommendation in 2015.

Retail shop workers have traditionally been among the lowest paid in the economy, with limited non-pay benefits.

Lidl said it is the only supermarket to offer paid maternity and paternity leave to all employees across the country, among a number of staff benefits related to fertility and care.

The retailer employs more than 6,000 staff in its 179 stores, its head office in Tallaght and distribution centres and regional offices.