Wal-Mart Trying to Improve Battered Image

(Updated to include comments from the Walmart tax break for getting veterans.) Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) was very busy over the past few days. The world's largest retailer has made a series of announcements that took some of the most important issues facing. News Some come from Bill Simon, Walmart U.S. chief, at the annual meeting of the National Retail Federation on January 15. Walmart plans sound serious and smart for all kinds of reasons, including in terms of public relations, and suggests the company wants to do better. At the meeting, Simon Forrester by saying: "Could the same. Instead, we decided we could move the rock. We can only ... decided to do it "OUR Walmart, a group of union-backed protest in November. Asks for more time and better pay. Among the complaints are that the schedule part-time workers are often changed, making it difficult to hold a second job or go to school or taking care of the family. At the meeting retailers', Simon began by saying, He went on to promise that the part that "we all tired of retail jobs are placed, as if retail workers are not to judge for themselves what an excellent job. "Employee Time will receive additional information and full-time jobs and work first taken, and added:" We will also bring transparency in our system scheduling to the part -time workers may choose more time for themselves "response, a trade group called Making Change at Walmart tweeted:"! Good news if it's true, "Simon also announced that Walmart will offer employment to any honorably discharged veteran on active duty for less than one year. Company projects it implements more than 100,000 veterans over the next five years. First Lady Michelle Obama praised the plan in a statement (PDF) provided by the company. A colleague at Bloomberg News shows that Walmart Brings initiative could generate as much as $ 960 million in tax breaks. "Our commitment has been working for months and tax breaks are not even a consideration," said spokeswoman Brooke Walmart Walmart Buchanan.Critics found import of cheap goods from China too much and low income countries . "I know Walmart shelf urban legend is full of foreign products," said Simon. Then he committed Walmart to buy an additional $ 50 billion in U.S. products over the next decade. He said the company will enhance what you have purchased, including sporting goods, clothing basics, storage products, games, and paper products. And it will help manufacturers such "higher potential" areas such as textiles, furniture, pet supplies, outdoor categories, and higher-end appliances.The days earlier, Walmart has announced a new line of premium cosmetics Drew Barrymore, Flower, sold exclusively in stores at the end of the month. Flowers produced in the U.S., too.The U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating alleged corruption by corporate executives Mexicans Walmart, the largest retailer and the potential coverup by its executive headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.. (Walmart cooperate with the investigation and conduct its own investigation.) In. January 11th the company announced a new head of Walmart Latin America, Enrique Ostalé, to leave his current position as president and CEO of Walmart Chile. Executive in charge of operations in Latin America who will retire. A Walmart spokesman told Bloomberg News the changes were not related to the probe. But the timing must be right.