If you thought Walmart couldn’t get any more exploitative, think again.

The retail giant announced on Oct. 7 that it would cut health benefits for all employees who work fewer than 30 hours per week, a move that will affect roughly 30,000 workers. The change, which is set to take effect Jan. 1, follows similar decisions by Target, Home Depot and others to eliminate health benefits for part-timers.

Ironically, the announcement came one day after the company said it would begin selling health insurance in 2,700 of its more than 4,000 U.S. stores.

The measure is meant to cut Walmart’s growing health care costs, which have risen as a result of growing enrollment in its health plans in the wake of the Affordable Care Act. Around 1.2 million Walmart workers and family members now participate in the plans out of a total U.S. Walmart workforce of 1.4 million.

The company is also increasing premiums for its full-time workers. For the lowest-cost plan, in which 40 percent of workers are enrolled, premiums will increase from $18.40 to $21.90 per month, a jump of roughly 18 percent.

24/7 Wall Street, Oct. 7, 16

Daily Kos, Oct. 7

Associated Press, Oct. 7