Amazon raises minimum wage for US and UK employees

Company says it has 'listened to its critics' as it increases US rate to $15 and UK to 9.50

Amazon has raised its minimum wage for British and American workers, in a major milestone for campaigners pushing for pay increases to tackle rising levels of poverty and inequality.

The company, which has become almost a byword for low-paid and low-quality work in recent years, said it would increase its US minimum wage to $15 (11.57) an hour for more than 350,000 workers. In the UK 40,000 permanent and temporary staff will get an increase to 10.50 an hour in London and 9.50 across the rest of the country.