Amazon India Workers Join Global Strike To Seek Better Pay

Amazon workers in India joined a global strike on the day of ‘Black Friday’, demanding better pay and working conditions. 

According to news agency AP News, about 200 workers protested in New Delhi under the “Make Amazon Pay” campaign.

“Our basic salary is INR 10,000 ($120), which should be at least INR 25,000 ($295),” the report quoted an Amazon India worker as saying. 

Meanwhile, the ecommerce giant denied the allegations in a statement given to the news agency. “Our facilities are industry-leading and provide competitive pay, comfortable working conditions, and specially designed infrastructure to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all,” it said.

Amazon said that workers are “intentionally misleading and continuing to promote a false narrative”. 

In a separate statement, the Amazon India Union Workers said that the workers plan to intensify the protests across the country.

“We are here in Jantar Mantar, Delhi with Amazon India Union Workers & warehouse workers of Amazon to demand #MakeAmazonPay for minimum pay, decent working conditions and recognition of Amazon workers union,” said UNI Global Union’s Asia and Pacific arm in a post on X. 

UNI is a global trade union federation which claims to represent more than 20 Mn workers in the services and skill sector across 150 countries .

It is pertinent to note that this is not the first time that Amazon India has been in the news over the working conditions of its employees. Earlier this year, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sought a detailed report from the Centre over allegations of labour law violations at Amazon India’s warehouse in Manesar. 

At the time, the NHRC took suo motu cognisance of a report by the Indian Express which alleged harsh working conditions at the ecommerce major’s warehouse.

The company reportedly acknowledged lapses in workplace safety at its Haryana’s Manesar warehouse.

Meanwhile, commerce minister Piyush Goyal recently directed ecommerce platforms to stick to the rule of the law on foreign direct investments (FDI). 

The comment came after reports surfaced that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) found “direct links” between Amazon and Flipkart and their preferred sellers.

Before this, Goyal had publicly lashed out at Amazon for its alleged predatory pricing tactics. He went on to say that the ecommerce major plans to invest billions of dollars in India only to offset its losses and not for any great service or any great investment to support the Indian economy. 

However, Goyal also clarified that the government is not against online marketplaces but wants them to operate fairly.