German discount supermarket Aldi has announced plans to hire 3,500 store workers across the UK as it prepares for the busy Christmas period, offering some of the highest pay rates in the supermarket sector.

The recruitment drive encompasses various permanent positions, including store assistants, managerial roles, and cleaners. Store assistants will receive £12.40 per hour nationally, rising to £13.65 for those working within the M25. Notably, Aldi remains the only UK supermarket to offer paid breaks, providing an additional benefit worth more than £900 annually for the average store colleague.

The recruitment initiative comes as part of Aldi's broader expansion strategy, with plans to open 17 new stores before year-end, working towards a long-term goal of operating 1,500 stores across the UK.

Kelly Stokes, recruitment director at Aldi UK, emphasised the company's commitment to accessibility and staff welfare, stating: "Our mission is to make affordable, high-quality food accessible to everyone, and that is even more important at this time of year. Our colleagues are essential to ensuring Aldi shoppers have a great experience in store."

In a move to support employee wellbeing, Aldi has confirmed it will continue its tradition of closing stores on Boxing Day to give staff additional time off during the festive period. "We're once again closing our stores on Boxing Day to give them a well-deserved break as a thank you for their dedication," Stokes added.

The supermarket's recruitment drive follows similar announcements from competitors, with Sainsbury's and Morrisons revealing plans to hire 20,000 and 3,000 temporary workers respectively for the Christmas season.

The new roles are now open for applications, with successful candidates set to start work during the pre-Christmas period.

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