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Wal-Mart settles labour lawsuits | Wal-Mart settles labour lawsuits |
(about 8 hours later) | |
The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, has said it will pay up to $640m (£427m) to settle 63 lawsuits which accuse it of breaking labour laws. | The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, has said it will pay up to $640m (£427m) to settle 63 lawsuits which accuse it of breaking labour laws. |
The cases brought against the US-based company allege that Wal-Mart workers were forced to work during breaks. | |
"Many of these lawsuits were filed years ago and the allegations are not representative of the company we are today," Wal-Mart said in a statement. | "Many of these lawsuits were filed years ago and the allegations are not representative of the company we are today," Wal-Mart said in a statement. |
The retailer employs more than 1.4 million workers. | The retailer employs more than 1.4 million workers. |
Our policy is to pay associates for every hour worked and to provide rest and meal breaks Tom Mars, Wal-Mart general counsel | Our policy is to pay associates for every hour worked and to provide rest and meal breaks Tom Mars, Wal-Mart general counsel |
Wal-Mart has agreed to use electronic systems to ensure compliance with its wage and hour policies and law. | Wal-Mart has agreed to use electronic systems to ensure compliance with its wage and hour policies and law. |
"Our policy is to pay associates for every hour worked and to provide rest and meal breaks," Wal-Mart general counsel Tom Mars said in a statement. | "Our policy is to pay associates for every hour worked and to provide rest and meal breaks," Wal-Mart general counsel Tom Mars said in a statement. |
At the beginning of December, Wal-Mart agreed to pay up to $54.3m to settle a similar class-action, or group, lawsuit in Minnesota. | At the beginning of December, Wal-Mart agreed to pay up to $54.3m to settle a similar class-action, or group, lawsuit in Minnesota. |
In 2005, a California court found that Wal-Mart broke a state law requiring employers to give staff an unpaid 30-minute lunch break if they worked more than six hours, and ordered the retailer to pay $172m. | In 2005, a California court found that Wal-Mart broke a state law requiring employers to give staff an unpaid 30-minute lunch break if they worked more than six hours, and ordered the retailer to pay $172m. |
In 2006, a jury in a Pennsylvania court also decided that Wal-Mart broke a state law and ordered it to pay at least $78m. | In 2006, a jury in a Pennsylvania court also decided that Wal-Mart broke a state law and ordered it to pay at least $78m. |
A year later, the retailer was told to pay an additional $62m in compensation to staff who worked for Wal-Mart in Pennsylvania between 1997 and 2006. | A year later, the retailer was told to pay an additional $62m in compensation to staff who worked for Wal-Mart in Pennsylvania between 1997 and 2006. |
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