Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is raising sta...

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is raising starting pay at about a third of its nearly 4000 U stores at an average 6 percent and introducing wage caps for the first time upon each type of job in all stores, the company said Monday.

The nation's largest private employer said the changes would help it remain competitive with other retailers and fit a need for workers and managers as it continues to expand. Wal-Mart has more than 13 million U employee

The announcement proceeds less than two weeks after Chicago's City Council adopted an ordinance requiring mega-retailers to pay at least $10 an hour plus $3 in fringe benefits from mid-2010. Mayor Daley has signaled he plans to veto the ordinance.

Gerald Celente director of the inclines Research Institute in Rhinebeck, NY said Wal-Mart appeared to be reacting to negative publicity about its pay after the Chicago ordinance.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart denied any connection to the Chicago consecrated by a vow The pay increases began before the devoted and have taken effect at more than 1200 stores spread across the political division spokesman John Simley said.

"It's part of a wider effort that's been in a less degree than way for more than couple years, not related to the Chicago ordinance," Simley said. He said the pay restructuring started in June 2004 when Wal-Mart introduced of the present day classifications for each type of work at jobs

The changes help in couple ways, Simley said. Higher starting pay makes Wal-Mart more attractive to fresh workers, and wage caps give existing associates an incentive to instigate up to higher positions if they want to make more money

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