Amazon admits to flouting safety norms in Indian warehouse

In light of Amazon’s recent admission to flouting safety norms at its Manesar warehouse in India, Mathias Bolton, UNI Global Union’s Head of Commerce stated:

“Amazon workers in India and elsewhere have long expressed concerns about being underpaid and experiencing high levels of stress due to grueling working conditions. Amazon’s recent admission highlights the need for immediate action to ensure the safety and well-being of our workforce. This is why we need unions. It is essential that workers have a seat at the table in discussions about workplace safety, fair wages, and working conditions. Amazon’s corrective actions must also include meaningful engagement with employee representatives to develop and implement effective safety measures and fair labour practices.”

Last week, the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) took taking action after Amazon workers publicized grueling working conditions that could violate their human rights. The commission’s suo motu cognizance comes after media reports of Amazon management at its Manesar, Haryana, warehouse making a 24-year-old worker pledge to not take toilet or water breaks during a record-breaking heat wave in May.

The NHRC said in a statement:

“The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights of the workers in violation of the labour laws and the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment from time to time.”

Suo moto refers to an action taken by a court or agency on its own accord, without a complaint being filed. The NHRC requested that the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment provide additional information within the next week.

The Amazon India Workers Association (AIWA), supported by UNI Global Union, has urged the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to take immediate measures to safeguard warehouse workers in response to escalating heatwaves. Northern and Western India have been severely affected, with April 2024 recording the highest temperatures since 1901. On May 27, Delhi experienced a record-breaking temperature of 49 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous high of 45.6 degrees set in 1941, prompting warnings from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

Amazon has faced similar scrutiny regarding labour conditions in other countries. In the United States, the company has been criticized for its high injury rates and inadequate response to worker safety concerns. In Europe, Amazon has been fined and investigated for poor working conditions and union-busting activities. These global issues highlight a pattern of neglecting worker welfare that extends beyond India.

Considering these severe conditions, it is vital to acknowledge that climate change greatly contributes to the growing frequency and intensity of such heatwaves. Scientists have warned that without significant global efforts to mitigate climate change, extreme weather events, including heatwaves, will become more common and severe. This trend underscores the urgent need for both immediate action to protect workers and long-term strategies to address the root causes of climate change.

UNI Global Union represents more than 20 million workers from over 150 countries in the skills and services sectors. Our mission is to build power for working people in our sectors through strong unions and effective collective bargaining.