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Wal-Mart wants wages raised

U.S. discount retailer Wal-Mart is demanding that the American government raise the minimum wage while announcing that energy consumption, waste reduction and offering lower-priced health care options for employees will be high on the company?s agenda. Wal-Mart has been under pressure from environmentalists over its energy usage, while the retailer?s production practices ? utilizing cheap labor in southeast Asia ? has made it the target of labor groups.

Referring to the demand for a higher minimum wage, Wal-Mart Chief Executive Lee Scott said, ?While it is unusual for us to take a public position on a public policy issue of this kind, we simply believe it is time for Congress to take a responsible look at the minimum wage and other legislation that may help working families.?

Wal-Mart executives have acknowledged that the company has a severe image problem even as customers continue to flock to its stores. When a Wal-Mart opens in a certain town or region, the low prices of its products ? due mostly to the company employing overseas manufacturers that pay workers barely enough to eat a diet barely equaling what we consider to be malnutrition ? often drive local businesses out of business.