Amazon is struggling to find warehouse workers in a potential threat to Christmas deliveries.
The firm is looking to hire 20,000 temporary workers across the UK.
But difficulties in some parts of the country has led to it offering signing-on bonuses of up to £3,000.
It came as the online giant’s parent company revealed it will spend big money tackling worker shortages and supply chain issues globally.
The firm said it was doing “whatever it takes to minimise the impact” on customers.
Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy said the company expected to “incur several billion dollars of additional costs” to deal with labour shortages and other supply chain problems.
How are you preparing for Christmas? Join the discussion in the comment section
He said: “It’ll be expensive for us in the short term, but it’s the right prioritisation for customers and partners.”
Amazon UK said the starting pay for fulfilment centre workers was £10 an hour, or £11 in some areas.
It added: “We’re also offering a sign-on bonus at a number of locations to attract new permanent and seasonal associates.” Clare Bottle, CEO of the UK Warehousing Association, said higher staff wages would likely be passed on to shoppers.
“Many of my members are saying they have raised pay by 20% to 30%,” she said. “They are having to go back to customers, who include retailers, and say, ‘You have to pay more’.”
Recruitment giant Manpower found more than three-quarters of firms were suffering worker shortages – but just 29% were tackling the problem with higher pay.
Chris Gray, director of Manpower Group UK, said: “Many employers are turning to non-financial incentives, such as additional annual leave.”
