BNR – The United States Congress is investigating the warehouse safety policies of Amazon. The probe adds to the heat on the business over its treatment of employees.
Senator Bernie Sanders announced the investigation, calling the corporation one of the “most dangerous” companies in America.
Sanders highlighted a report that revealed that injury rates at Amazon warehouses in the United States are higher than at comparable facilities. Amazon, on the other hand, disputed the allegations.
Since 2019, the business has allocated over $1 billion towards enhancing safety, according to spokesperson Steve Kelly. Also, it decreased injuries in the United States by 23 per cent over that time period.
“We take the safety and health of our employees very seriously,” he stated. “There will always be ways to improve, but we’re proud of the progress we’ve made.”
The union-backed Strategic Organising Centre released the report that Sanders cited. It was discovered using government statistics that Amazon’s injury rate in 2022 was 70 per cent higher than at other facilities.
The US Labour Department has also filed several violations against the corporation. They warned of “ergonomic hazards” related to the speed with which employees handle orders. Amazon has filed an appeal against the citations.
Scrutiny Intensifies: Amazon Faces Hearing
The Senate probe follows heightened scrutiny of Amazon’s handling of employees since the Coronavirus outbreak.
There was an international uproar at the time about the circumstances that provoked walkouts across Europe. Furthermore, it spurred regulatory probes and unionisation efforts at numerous US warehouses.
Scores of Amazon employees in Coventry, UK, are presently on strike.
Sanders is a self-proclaimed socialist who has previously run unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination. He is well-known for his support of progressive issues. He has already chastised Amazon for its tax and labour policies. His effort prompted Amazon to raise its minimum hourly wage for US employees to $15 in 2018.
He informed the corporation about the investigation in a letter. He wrote, “The company’s quest for profits at all costs has led to unsafe physical.” Sanders’ action might possibly result in a hearing in which Amazon is compelled to testify.
