NRF comments on Walmart pay hike for associates

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation credited the “power of the marketplace” in Walmart’s decision to increase wages of approximately 500,000 full-time and part-time associates in April to $9 an hour, which is well above the Federal minimum wage.



“Today’s announcement by Walmart regarding associate wages is just another example of the power of the marketplace,” said NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay. “Like many other retailers, Walmart made its decision based upon what is best for their employees, their customers, their shareholders and the communities in which they operate.”



In his comments, Shay made a reference to efforts to increase the Federal minimum wage.



“Government mandates that arbitrarily require businesses to implement politically driven policy are unnecessary and, in fact, create hurdles to job creation, curtail capital investment and pose as barriers to a sustained economic recovery.”