Facebook Inc. is increasing pay and benefits for contractworkers and vendor employees, joining Silicon Valley companies thatare taking steps to narrow the compensation gap in the region.

The new standards include a minimum wage of $15 an hour and atleast 15 paid days off for holidays, sick time and vacation, ChiefOperating Officer Sheryl Sandberg wrote in a blog post on Tuesday.For workers who don't receive paid parental leave, thesocial-networking company has a $4,000 new-child benefit.California's minimum wage is set to increase by $1 to $10 an hourin January. The national rate is $7.25.

Facebook's changes took effect May 1 for some of its largestsupport teams at its Menlo Park, California, headquarters.

The social network is the latest among Silicon Valley companiesboosting compensation for contractors whose work can include foodservice, grounds maintenance and communications. Shuttle-busdrivers serving Facebook, Apple Inc., EBay Inc. and Yahoo! Inc.voted in February to unionize. Apple agreed in March to 25 percentraises for its drivers. Microsoft Corp. said the same month that itwould provide contract workers at least 15 paid days offannually.

“Taking these steps is the right thing to do for our businessand our community,” Sandberg wrote. “Research also shows thatproviding adequate benefits contributes to a happier and ultimatelymore productive workforce.”

Facebook's policy will be implemented more broadly within theyear, the company said. The expansion will include people who dosubstantial work for Facebook and who are employed by companiesbased in the U.S. with more than 25 workers supporting the socialnetwork.

U.S. staffing companies hire out 14 million contractors a year,according to an estimate by the American Staffing Association.About 1.8 million of those work in the information technology,scientific and engineering fields.

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