Amazon in Germany investigating claims of poor working conditions, low pay, and hired neo-nazis
Amazon has denied the allegations but will investigate per the request of the German government. Sounds like a third party is in charge of hiring. Hopefully Amazon will get rid of all those involved quickly if the reports are true.
Amazon to probe German ‘neo-Nazi’ allegations
Online retailer Amazon has said it will investigate reports temporary staff at its logistics centres in Germany were subjected to a climate of intimidation by security staff wearing neo-Nazi linked clothes.
A documentary aired on German television told of grim conditions for staff hired by temp agencies on Amazon’s behalf.
ARD public television cited temporary staff saying they were paid less than promised, faced constant searches and were intimidated by security staff wearing clothes linked to Germany’s neo-Nazi scene.
The documentary showed guards in black uniforms with ‘HESS’ emblazoned on their chests, standing for Hensel European Security Services, but also reminiscent of Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess.
In Frankfurt, locals said they would end their use of Amazon’s German website, amazon.de, in response to the documentary.
“I ordered books at Amazon 2 or 3 times, but this will not happen anymore. Simple,” said one man.
Another had deleted his account altogether.
“In reaction to that, yesterday an email from Amazon arrived with a statement which tried to correct the claims and with the request not to cancel my account, but I finally deleted it this morning,” he said.
Amazon has more than 7,700 permanent employees in Germany, but hires thousands more to fulfil surges in orders before Christmas.
The German union ‘ver.di’ says Amazon workers have for years complained of intense pressure, random searches and short breaks.
UPDATE: Amazon fires German security firm amid probe over mistreatment of temporary workers
BERLIN — Online retailer Amazon reacted to mounting criticism Monday by firing a security company named in a German television documentary about alleged mistreatment of foreign temporary workers.
An Amazon spokeswoman in Germany said the company had ended its relationship with Hensel European Security Services “with immediate effect.”
“Amazon has a zero tolerance limit for discrimination and intimidation and expects the same of other companies we work with,” spokeswoman Ulrike Stoecker said in an email to The Associated Press.
A documentary shown on German public television channel ARD last week showed staff of the security company — whose initials spell out the surname of Adolf Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess — wearing clothes linked to Germany’s neo-Nazi scene. It also interviewed people claiming they were intimidated by the security guards, who were stationed at a holiday camp where the temporary staff were housed.
Good for them.