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Amazon can only deliver essential items in France, court rules

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Amazon can only deliver essential items in France, court rules
Amazon sorting centre at Bretigny-sur-Orge on the outskirts of Paris. Photo: AFP

A French court ruled on Tuesday that Amazon must limit its operations to delivering only essential goods while it evaluates workers' risks of coronavirus exposure, according to a ruling seen by AFP.

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The court in Nanterre, outside Paris, said Amazon France had "failed to recognise its obligations regarding the security and health of its workers".

While carrying out the health evaluation, Amazon can prepare and deliver only "food, hygiene and medical products," the court said.

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The injunction must be carried out within 24 hours, or Amazon France could face fines of €1 million per day.

The American e-commerce giant has been hiring thousands of workers as business booms in countries affected by the coronavirus outbreak after authorities imposed business closures and stay-at-home orders to try to limit infections.

But Amazon France's biggest labour union took the company to court saying more than 100 workers were being forced to work in close proximity despite the nationwide ban on public gatherings in force since mid-March.

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Last month, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire accused Amazon of putting "unacceptable" pressure on employees after unions claimed the retailer was refusing to pay staff who did not go in to work for fear of coronavirus contagion.

His comments came after hundreds of employees walked out at several Amazon processing centres in France, exercising the "right of refusal" in France's labour code if an employee considers there is a risk to health or safety.

Amazon disputed claims that it was not taking sufficient precautionary measures, saying it had imposed stricter cleaning protocols and taken steps "so that employees can keep the necessary distance from one another."

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Anonymous 2020/04/17 15:43
What's the difference between handling "essential" items and "non-essential" items when it comes to workers' safety? There is game playing going on!!
Anonymous 2020/04/15 18:18
Great idea Boggy. No workers’ rights is a brilliant idea. Look how great the gig economy in UK and US is going. A beacon of civilization and humanity. <br />A return to slavery could be just what the world needs.....
Anonymous 2020/04/15 08:04
Doesn't France want any business at all? The unions want sorting out, who do they think pay their members wages and their own high salaries.

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