Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) has been fined and ordered to improve warehouse working conditions in the US, adding to pressure from its workers around the world for better pay and conditions.
The online retail giant has been told to improve working practices at three warehouses in Florida, Illinois and New York, where the US Department of Labour found staff were being injured at a high rate.
"Amazon's operating methods are creating hazardous work conditions and processes, leading to serious worker injuries," Occupational Safety and Health Administration assistant secretary Doug Parker said.
"They need to take these injuries seriously and implement a company-wide strategy to protect their employees from these well-known and preventable hazards.”
Amazon was also ordered to pay just shy of US$50,000 in penalties.
It comes as workers from its Coventry warehouse in the UK launch a second round of strike action over pay and conditions, potentially costing Amazon up to £2mln, according to local trade unions, while last year's busiest shopping day saw strikes of warehouse workers and delivery drivers in Germany, Italy and France as well as protests in a further 22 countries.
Amazon has also faced scrutiny over working conditions at its sites from activist investors, with 44% shareholder support for a proposal for the retailer to launch an independent review of its health and safety practices.
After being knocked back, activist group Tulipshare is now due to meet Amazon’s environmental, social and governance team on March 17, suggesting now is the time to “fix its reputation as an employer who disregards workers’ rights.”