Fresh and frozen chicken production organisation Sanderson Farms has increased wages for its hourly-paid employees, resulting in a pay rise of $1 (£0.79) an hour.
The pay increase, effective from 2 June 2019, will see hourly-paid employees with a tenure of at least 90 days earn $15 (£11.87) an hour.
In addition, hourly rates of pay for truck drivers, maintenance staff and upgraded positions will be increased by more than $1 an hour.
Sanderson Farms, which is based in Laurel, Mississippi, has increased its hourly base pay in order to attract and retain talent.
The increased wages will be provided alongside the organisation’s existing benefits package. This includes health insurance, 75% of which is paid for by Sanderson Farms, for employees and their families, as well as a retirement package.
Joe F Sanderson Jr, chairman and chief executive officer at Sanderson Farms, said: “We believe these hourly rate increases, when combined with other benefits, will allow the [organisation] to remain very competitive in an economic climate where employees have more choices available to them.
“We also estimate that the costs of this increase can be offset with increased efficiencies, by reaching our target plant yields and by achieving our target live weights.”