Digital retail giant Amazon has awarded a near-10% pay rise for thousands of workers in the UK.

The increase will lift minimum rates by 9.8% and comes after online retailer maintained its non-union status in Britain has defeating the GMB’s bid for bargaining rights on pay.

Amazon said the increase would lift minimum pay rates to between £13.50 and £14.50 an hour, depending on location. Staff with at least three years’ service will receive a minimum of between £13.75 and £14.75 an hour.

The pay rise will apply from 29 September including those employed in the retailer’s UK fulfilment centres.

The company said it had invested £550 million in raising employee pay since 2022, adding that staff received benefits such as subsidised meals and discounts.

A spokesperson said: “That’s why we are proud to announce that we are increasing our minimum starting pay for all frontline employees to the equivalent of more than £28,000 a year and we continue to offer industry-leading benefits from day one.”

Amazon has a global policy of non-cooperation with trade unions, saying it prefers to have a direct relationship with staff.