Amazon DOUBLES joining bonus to £3,000 in fight for Christmas workers
AMAZON has doubled the cash it's handing out to new staff in a bid to attract workers for the busy Christmas period.
The retail giant is looking to fill 20,000 positions and was initially adverting a joining bonus of £1,500.
Now job adverts at Amazon are offering double that amount at £3,000.
Full-time "sortation operatives" in Peterborough will get the the cash if they start before October 30.
Part-time seasonal workers in Exeter and Southampton are also being offered the cash.
Hourly pay for the roles, which involve sorting customer orders so they reach their final destination, is up to £11.10 per hour.
Other positions come with a bonus of £1,500 or £2,000, Amazon's job website shows.
It's not the only retailer hunting for Christmas staff - and offering a bonus for new joiners.
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Tesco and Sainsbury's are handing some seasonal workers £500 when they first start.
An Amazon spokesperson said: "Amazon is hiring for 20,000 seasonal positions across its UK network during the festive season.
"Pay for operations roles starts at a minimum of £10.00 per hour rising to £11.10 per hour in some parts of the UK for all full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal roles.
"We are also currently offering a sign on bonus at a number of locations to attract new permanent and seasonal associates."
But experts have said the big bonus is a "blow" for smaller businesses - and could even lead to higher prices for shoppers.
Ian Wright, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation, told The Guardian: "There isn’t a vast reservoir of British workers just waiting to be fought over. It’s incredibly difficult to get Christmas staff labour in many areas.
"It will mean higher prices and fewer choices on shelves. Suppliers will almost certainly produce shorter runs of product and if they can, they will look at higher prices."
Next has warned that a lack of seasonal staff over the Christmas period could lead to delivery delays and shortages.
The retailer said that without a relaxation of immigration rules, it will struggle over the peak festive trading period.
There is a shortage of lorry drivers which has affected deliveries from food to petrol in recent months, and could result in shortages over Christmas.
Brits could be without pigs in blankets in December 25 due to a lack of butchers.
The hospitality industry has also struggling to hire workers to fill vacancies and some firms have offered joining bonusses of up to £10,000.
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Job vacancies in the UK have soared to a record 1.1million, according to the latest official data, and pay rates have surged by nearly 6% in the last three months.
Parents have been left in tears after being told children's Christmas presents have sold out due to the global shipping crisis.
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