Wal-Mart Stores have paid 17.5 million dollars to settle a class action lawsuit over alleged racial discrimination in the giant retailer's hiring of truck drivers, the company said. The suit was filed by Daryal Nelson and Tommy Armstrong who alleged that Wal-Mart, Inc and Wal-Mart Transportation LLC had "discriminated against African Americans on the basis of race in recruitment and hiring."
The world's biggest retailer decided to settle the litigation "in the best interest of our company, our shareholders and our associates," said spokeswoman Daphne Moore in a statement released late Friday. "Encouraging diversity is an important part of the hiring process for all areas of our company," she added.