Amazon.com announced a significant investment of more than $1 billion in raising pay and reducing healthcare costs for its U.S. fulfillment and transportation employees. The company plans to increase the average total compensation to over $30 an hour, with the average pay rising to over $23 per hour. Full-time employees are expected to see a yearly increase of $1,600 on average. Amazon also plans to lower the cost of its entry-level health care plan to $5 per week and $5 for co-pays by 2026, a 34% decrease in weekly contributions from employees.

With over 1.5 million full-time and part-time employees, Amazon has faced criticism from unions and workers in the past, leading to walkouts and demands for better treatment. In response, Amazon has agreed to implement safety measures to prevent ergonomic injuries in its U.S. facilities.