Wages and benefits will increase by a higher extent than in recent years, it said.

The company will spend HUF 3.2 billion on raising wages this year, it added. 

In positions not requiring a qualification, starting gross wages will range between HUF 320,000 and HUF 421,000, depending on individual performance. These could rise to between HUF 342,000 and HUF 445,000 from July if overall targets are achieved by the company. Skilled workers are paid higher wages, an in-store baker could earn up to gross HUF 485,000 from the second half of the year. 

Non-wage benefits will remain in place and the employee stock ownership plan will be expanded, the company said.

Hungarians working full-time in commerce earned a gross monthly HUF 402,960, on average, in October, the latest data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH) show.

Auchan operates 19 hyper- and 5 supermarkets in Hungary.