Campaign partners: Amazon India Workers Union
Decision Makers:
Mr Amit Agarwal, Global Senior Vice President and Country Head of Amazon India
Mr Abhinav Singh, VP of Operations, Amazon India
Demands
Minimum monthly salary of ₹25,000 for all warehouse workers.
Proper 30-minute lunch breaks.
Seating arrangements and restrooms for workers standing for long hours.
Regularization of all workers after 240 working days in a year.
Elimination of harassment, disrespectful language, and discrimination against women workers.
Affordable canteens with worker participation in every warehouse..
Formation of grievance committees with worker representation in every warehouse.
Temperature control systems in all warehouse sections.
Weather-appropriate uniforms for all workers.
Recognition of the Amazon India Workers’ Union and immediate negotiations on our general demands.
Introduction
I’m sure you rejoice when your Amazon parcel reaches you within days of placing an order. The joy of getting your parcel so quickly is unmatched. But have you ever wondered about the human cost? Thousands of workers suffer in silence so you get your parcel delivered on time.
What’s the issue?
Thousands of Amazon India warehouse workers have to endure extremely difficult conditions at the warehouse so your package is delivered to your doorstep. As opposed to the norm of 8 hour workdays, workers at Amazon warehouses in India are forced to work 10-hours a day, processing upto 240 items per hour!
30-minute lunch breaks are drastically reduced as they have to wait in long lines, punch in their cards, leaving them with effectively just a 10-minute lunch break! Imagine having to wrap up your food within minutes.
The nature of work is contractual- which means, they can be fired at will, leaving them with no job security. The contracts span durations of 1 month, 3 months or a maximum of 11 months, which denies them the benefits like gratuity. Once a contract ends, they are rehired to avoid regularizing their positions, leaving them trapped in a cycle of instability.
Workers stand for hours on end with no seating arrangements, forcing some—especially women—to take refuge in washrooms for moments of rest. There are no proper restroom facilities for women, leaving them vulnerable to physical and emotional distress.
Accidents are frequent and workers are treated as replaceable. This is a harrowing experience of an 18-year old warehouse worker in Haryana:
“When I was working at the warehouse, I had an accident in which I hurt my finger. Even though my finger was bleeding, the supervisors handed me a Dolo (paracetamol) tablet and a glove and asked me to continue work. In no time, the blood started to seep out of my glove, so I spoke to my HR. I told them that I would like to go to the hospital to get my wound checked. They told me that if I left from work, I would not get my salary for the day. After a while, I went back to the HR and requested for a leave due to unbearable pain. They responded by saying that since my right hand was hurt, I could work with my left hand, and if I couldn’t do the unloading, then I could do some other work. I was also told that if I complained again, they would blocklist me.
I went to work the next day, and they had already blocklisted me. When I asked my supervisors about this they said I was blocklisted a month ago, even though I had only worked the previous day.”
For years now, Amazon warehouse workers and delivery executives have raised their voices through peaceful protests, but their cries have been ignored. The workers face systemic exploitation and violation of basic human rights at the hands of large corporations like Amazon. We must not stay silent while corporations like Amazon continue filling their pockets.
What can you do?
We are echoing the workers’ demands for an equal pay policy along with protection against harassment for female workers, provision of proper sanitation facilities and resting facilities, weather appropriate uniforms and fair compensation for work-related accidents. Join us as we stand in solidarity with them.
The working conditions at these workhouses not only compromise the workers’ physical well-being but also their dignity. It's time to demand better working conditions!
Sources:
Campaign partners: Amazon India Workers Union
Decision Makers:
Mr Amit Agarwal, Global Senior Vice President and Country Head of Amazon India
Mr Abhinav Singh, VP of Operations, Amazon India
Demands
Minimum monthly salary of ₹25,000 for all warehouse workers.
Proper 30-minute lunch breaks.
Seating arrangements and restrooms for workers standing for long hours.
Regularization of all workers after 240 working days in a year.
Elimination of harassment, disrespectful language, and discrimination against women workers.
Affordable canteens with worker participation in every warehouse..
Formation of grievance committees with worker representation in every warehouse.
Temperature control systems in all warehouse sections.
Weather-appropriate uniforms for all workers.
Recognition of the Amazon India Workers’ Union and immediate negotiations on our general demands.
Introduction
I’m sure you rejoice when your Amazon parcel reaches you within days of placing an order. The joy of getting your parcel so quickly is unmatched. But have you ever wondered about the human cost? Thousands of workers suffer in silence so you get your parcel delivered on time.
What’s the issue?
Thousands of Amazon India warehouse workers have to endure extremely difficult conditions at the warehouse so your package is delivered to your doorstep. As opposed to the norm of 8 hour workdays, workers at Amazon warehouses in India are forced to work 10-hours a day, processing upto 240 items per hour!
30-minute lunch breaks are drastically reduced as they have to wait in long lines, punch in their cards, leaving them with effectively just a 10-minute lunch break! Imagine having to wrap up your food within minutes.
The nature of work is contractual- which means, they can be fired at will, leaving them with no job security. The contracts span durations of 1 month, 3 months or a maximum of 11 months, which denies them the benefits like gratuity. Once a contract ends, they are rehired to avoid regularizing their positions, leaving them trapped in a cycle of instability.
Workers stand for hours on end with no seating arrangements, forcing some—especially women—to take refuge in washrooms for moments of rest. There are no proper restroom facilities for women, leaving them vulnerable to physical and emotional distress.
Accidents are frequent and workers are treated as replaceable. This is a harrowing experience of an 18-year old warehouse worker in Haryana:
“When I was working at the warehouse, I had an accident in which I hurt my finger. Even though my finger was bleeding, the supervisors handed me a Dolo (paracetamol) tablet and a glove and asked me to continue work. In no time, the blood started to seep out of my glove, so I spoke to my HR. I told them that I would like to go to the hospital to get my wound checked. They told me that if I left from work, I would not get my salary for the day. After a while, I went back to the HR and requested for a leave due to unbearable pain. They responded by saying that since my right hand was hurt, I could work with my left hand, and if I couldn’t do the unloading, then I could do some other work. I was also told that if I complained again, they would blocklist me.
I went to work the next day, and they had already blocklisted me. When I asked my supervisors about this they said I was blocklisted a month ago, even though I had only worked the previous day.”
For years now, Amazon warehouse workers and delivery executives have raised their voices through peaceful protests, but their cries have been ignored. The workers face systemic exploitation and violation of basic human rights at the hands of large corporations like Amazon. We must not stay silent while corporations like Amazon continue filling their pockets.
What can you do?
We are echoing the workers’ demands for an equal pay policy along with protection against harassment for female workers, provision of proper sanitation facilities and resting facilities, weather appropriate uniforms and fair compensation for work-related accidents. Join us as we stand in solidarity with them.
The working conditions at these workhouses not only compromise the workers’ physical well-being but also their dignity. It's time to demand better working conditions!
Sources: