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Amazon sacks security firm amid scandal
Published: 18 Feb 13 15:19 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/sci-tech/20130218-48039.html
US online retail giant Amazon said on Monday it had cut ties with a security firm at the centre of allegations that foreign seasonal staff hired in Germany were harassed and intimidated.
- Germany wants Amazon working conditions probe - National (17 Feb 13)
- Amazon accused of abusing Christmas staff - Business & Money (15 Feb 13)
A public television documentary broadcast last week alleged that workers brought in from crisis-hit countries such as Spain to help at Amazon warehouses faced bullying from security personnel, some of whom wore clothing associated with neo-Nazi groups.
It added that Amazon paid the workers less than advertised and that their belongings were regularly searched in the temporary housing they were provided.
"As a responsible employer of approximately 8,000 salaried logistics employees, Amazon has zero tolerance for discrimination and intimidation and expects the same from every company we work with," Ulrike Stöcker, spokeswoman for Amazon's German branch said in a statement.
The US company, which has about 7,700 people on staff in Germany and hires additional temporary workers at peak times, said it was looking into the allegations and would not tolerate intimidation at its sites.
Hensel European Security Services, the company targeted in the documentary, also denied any wrongdoing.
Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen told Sunday's Welt am Sonntag newspaper that any proof of wrongdoing could result in serious consequences for the temporary employment agency used by Amazon.
"If the investigation shows there is something to the accusations against the temporary placement agency then its licence is at risk," she said.
AFP/mjl
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Your comments about this article:
If I were Amazon, I'd write out a check to each temp worker for a 1k Euro (minus German taxes of course) for pain and suffering. The German government will eventually investigate this to the ninth-degree and agree that most all rules/regulations were complied with....shocking the Spanish workers over German taxes/fees/etc.
As for Amazon? They'd best start planning the Christmas 2013 hiring plan right now. Bringing in Spanish workers just won't work.
I like a lot of clothes from England Londsdale for example but am not a neo so pray tell .
But this is red herring thrown out by Amazon to hide their poor treatment of agency workers ,they are not alone in this and a full investigation followed by some action into agencies in general might help.Don't hold your breath .
Thor Steinar (a brand which Amazon stopped selling in 2009, because of possible links with right wing extremists).
Amazon may have now sacked the HESS company but that's not going to put them in the clear - apart from hiring HESS in the first place, there are all the issues relating to their own treatment of the workers in question and whether some of this might fall foul of German law.
Thank you I'm in the clear then .