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Amazon Raises Minimum Wage Rates in UK

E-commerce giant, Amazon has announced that it is increasing its minimum wage to £10.50 per hour for the London area and £9.50 an hour for the rest of the UK for all full-time, part-time, temporary (including those hired by agencies), and seasonal employees with effective from November 1, this year.

The new Amazon £10.50, £9.50 minimum wage will benefit more than 17,000 Amazon staff, as well as over 20,000 seasonal employees, the company said.


"...this will impact more than 37,000 employees across the country, resulting in higher pay for them and their families," said Doug Gurr, Amazon VP and UK Country Manager commenting on the salary hike.

Employees will continue to receive Amazon's industry-leading benefits, including, comprehensive benefits package, such as private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, paid breaks, and others, the company said.

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UK calls for new pharmaceutical investment to strengthen life sciences

Highlights

  • UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
  • Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
  • Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.

Investment gap

Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.

Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.

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