Amazon India staff on working conditions: Made to stand for hours, restroom breaks not allowed
Survey by UNI Global Union with Amazon India Workers Association had 1,838 participants who alleged dire working conditions at Amazon’s India facilities.
Amazon’s warehouse and delivery workers in India alleged inhuman practices at its facilities. Four out of five warehouse workers reported that their work targets are ‘very difficult’ to achieve while some even alleged that they are not being allowed enough time to take restroom breaks or financial assistance for work-related injuries. The survey conducted by UNI Global Union in partnership with the Amazon India Workers Association (AIWA) had 1,838 participants who alleged dire working conditions at Amazon’s facilities in India.
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Of the total participants, 21.3 per cent of the workers and delivery executives said that they faced ‘unsafe’ working conditions.
No restroom breaks
Almost 86 per cent warehouse workers and 28 per cent of drivers alleged that the restroom breaks given to them by Amazon were inadequate. One of the workers said, “Feedback for being late is given when you take more than 10 minutes in the washroom."
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High work pressure
A former warehouse worker said, “My feet hurt a lot after work for 10 hours standing" while another alleged that the work pressure is so high that the staff does not even get the chance to talk to each other. A delivery person said, “I had an accident and no one helped me. I spent all my money."
Not enough salaries
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The workers said that their low salaries barely match the cost of living and basic needs as around 46.4 per cent of warehouse workers said that their salaries were not enough while 52.9 per cent said that it was just enough to meet their basic needs.
Amazon denied the allegations. “These claims are factually incorrect, unsubstantiated, and contradict what our own employees tell us directly. The data being quoted appears at best questionable, and at worst deliberately designed to deliver on a specific narrative that certain groups are trying to claim as fact," a company spokesperson told HT.
The spokesperson further said that in Amazon's recent internal survey at the Manesar fulfilment centre, which was conducted randomly and anonymously, 87% of its workforce said they were satisfied with their jobs, with as many as eight out of 10 recommending Amazon as a great place to work.
“There’s nothing more important to us (Amazon) than the safety and wellbeing of our employees and associates, and we comply with all relevant laws and regulations,” the spokesperson added.
