Amazon India Faces Legal Action Over Unsafe Warehouse Conditions, Unfair Worker Demands: Report

The labour inspection took place earlier this year after a series of complaints in May, when workers at the Manesar facility in Gurugram, Haryana, were allegedly pressured to skip breaks

In addition to these safety violations, Amazon was also accused of not issuing employment identity cards to its warehouse workers

Source : Pexels

Amazon is facing legal issues over alleged labour law violations following an inspection at one of its major warehouses in Manesar, near New Delhi. The inspection revealed serious safety breaches, inadequate record-keeping, and failure to comply with mandatory worker protection regulations, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

The labour inspection took place earlier this year after a series of complaints and a troubling incident in May, when workers at the Manesar facility in Gurugram, Haryana, were allegedly pressured to skip breaks to meet performance targets.

Documents obtained by Al Jazeera through India’s Right to Information (RTI) Act, along with court records, show that the May inspection identified multiple safety violations at the warehouse. The inspection found that Amazon had failed to provide necessary safety equipment for workers and had not maintained the required records. One specific concern was the absence of appropriate protective clothing for female workers working near moving machinery, where they were reportedly not provided with tight-fitting clothes to ensure safety.

The inspection report revealed that Amazon failed to provide tight-fitting clothes to female workers operating near moving machinery, violating India's labour laws, which mandate the use of protective gear and appropriate clothing in hazardous work environments. The report did not indicate whether similar protective clothing was provided to male workers.

In addition to these safety violations, Amazon was also accused of not issuing employment identity cards to its warehouse workers, which further compounded the legal issues. Based on the findings from the inspection, the Haryana government filed a case against Amazon in a court in Gurugram. Although the company was summoned to court on October 28, the case was adjourned, and the next hearing is now scheduled for December 10.

The legal proceedings stem from a May incident in which workers at an Amazon warehouse were reportedly pressured to sign verbal pledges agreeing to forgo breaks, including for water or bathroom visits until they had met their daily performance targets. This led to an internal investigation by Amazon, which confirmed that a manager had instructed workers to sign the pledges as part of a "motivational exercise."

In response, Amazon described the incident as "unfortunate and isolated" in a letter to India’s Ministry of Labour and Employment in June, although the company has not disclosed whether any disciplinary action was taken against the manager involved.

This incident prompted a wider investigation into the working conditions at the warehouse. Amazon has since stated that it has addressed the issue. "We are committed to the safety and well-being of our employees and comply with all relevant laws and regulations," said an Amazon spokesperson. However, the company has yet to provide details on the specific corrective measures taken.