Indian Amazon workers demand higher wages during Black Friday strikes

Amazon workers in India protested on Black Friday, demanding better wages and working conditions as the company experiences one of its busiest shopping seasons.

Around 200 warehouse employees and delivery drivers gathered in New Delhi under the motto “Make Amazon Pay”. Some participants wore masks of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to symbolically protest the company’s practices.

The strike was part of a broader global movement with similar strikes at Amazon facilities in the United States, Germany, Japan and Brazil.

Workers are demanding higher wages, better working conditions and the right to join unions without retaliation.

What are Amazon workers in India demanding?

The Indian protests focused on Amazon’s pay structure, with workers highlighting the stark contrast between their income and the cost of living.

“Our basic salary is 10,000 rupees ($120), which should be at least 25,000 rupees ($295),” said Manish Kumar, 25, a warehouse worker who attended the rally in New Delhi.

Nitesh Das, a leader of the Amazon India Workers Union, stressed that the protests were not only against the company but also aimed at pushing the Indian government to take action on workers’ rights. “We want the government to take up our cause,” Das said.

The union that organized the protests said similar actions would continue across India and other countries.

What are the most important demands of Amazon employees?

The union has outlined several key demands, including fair wages, improved working conditions, the right to form more unions and stronger environmental commitments from the company.

A memorandum highlighting these demands will be submitted to India’s Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

The strike comes amid growing concerns about the treatment of gig economy workers in India, where rapid economic growth is coupled with poor labor standards in many sectors.

While Amazon has created numerous jobs, particularly in e-commerce and delivery, critics argue that these positions often come with low pay, long hours and minimal benefits.

In June 2023, the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) issued a notice to Amazon after reports emerged that workers were forced to work without breaks during the summer peak season.

How did Amazon respond to the Black Friday protests?

In a statement released in India, Amazon accused workers of “intentionally misleading and continuing to spread a false narrative.”

“Our facilities are industry-leading, offering competitive wages, comfortable working conditions and purpose-built infrastructure to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for all,” the company said.

Newsweek contacted Amazon via email on Friday for further comment.

The company is facing increasing pressure from unions around the world over its treatment of its employees, particularly in the run-up to major sales events such as Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday, when warehouse and delivery workers face increased workloads.

The strikes in India and other countries highlight growing discontent among workers who argue that their pay and working conditions have not kept pace with Amazon’s rapid expansion and profitability.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press