Walmart has agreed to give workers a raise in about one-third of the country's stores, at the same time as nine states have agreed to raise their minimum wages by the first of the year, CBS news reported on Wednesday. 

The push for higher pay has been put forward by states and the Obama administration. Washington D.C. along with 29 other states will have minimum wages that are higher than the federal wage of $7.25 per hour by Jan. 1. The federal government is debating on whether to raise its minimum threshold as well.

A spokeswoman said in an email that the retail giant will be complying with rules in states that will see an increase in minimum wage. She would not confirm the report directly, though.

WalMart is the biggest private employer in the country, boasting 1.3 million employees, therefore making a wages hike substantial, according to the Huffington Post. The company operates on tight constraints as it keeps costs low and uses that as its main attraction to customers.

"Essentially that wage compression at the upper level of the hourly associate is going to help absorb that cost of the wage increase at the lower level," said a manager, who asked to not be named.

Chief Executive Doug McMillion said Walmart would make operations better for workers, including the almost 6,000 workers that make the $7.25 federal minimum wage at the locations not held to that rate.

"In the world there is a debate over inequity, and sometimes we get caught up in that," McMillon said. He added that he would take steps to ensure the company is "a meritocracy, an opportunity for people to do more."