 McDonald's employs 50,000 workers in China |
McDonald's is to raise wages in China, after claims that it and other foreign fast-food chains have underpaid their staff, a report says. Chinese salaries are to rise between 12% and 56%, a firm spokesperson said, reported Agence France Presse (AFP).
"The average salary increase will be around 30%," said the spokesperson for the firm, which operates around 800 restaurants in China.
Earlier reports said McDonald's and KFC had underpaid workers.
"I think the probe had the effect of pushing them," said Li Jianming, a spokesperson with state-run All China Federation of Trade Unions, after McDonald's said it would raise wages.
McDonald's declined to comment on this claim.
Reports over pay first emerged in the New Express newspaper in Guangzhou in March, saying that part-time workers at foreign-owned fast food chains were being paid up to 40% less than the minimum hourly wage, which is 7.5 yuan (48 pence).
McDonald's and Yum Brands, owner of KFC and Pizza Hut, denied the initial claims, saying they met labour rules.
McDonald's employs 50,000 staff at its 790 restaurants in mainland China.