"Amazon workers ‘made to pledge not to take water or bathroom breaks’ during 50C heatwave", 12th June 2024

Amazon workers in an Indian warehouse were allegedly made to pledge they would not take any breaks, including to drink water or go to the bathroom, until they met their targets, even as the country reeled under an unprecedented heatwave.

As temperatures soared past 50C, workers at Amazon India’s Manesar warehouse, located in the northern state of Haryana, said they were finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the hazardous working conditions they claim were being ignored by the management.

One worker, who requested anonymity, described an incident on 16 May when warehouse employees were allegedly asked to work continuously without breaks in order to meet their targets.

In a statement to The Independent, Amazon maintained that the safety and wellbeing of their employees was paramount. “All Amazon sites have been equipped with heat index devices that constantly monitor changes in temperature,” the company said.

The worker admitted there were fans and large coolers at the warehouse but described their impact as “negligible” ... The areas where we work are typically between 30-35C on any given day,” she said.

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The employee alleged that when women workers tried to rest in the bathrooms, the managers came looking for them.

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An Amazon spokesperson said: “Safety and wellbeing of our associates is of utmost priority for us. With several parts of the country witnessing inclement weather, all Amazon sites have been equipped with heat index devices that constantly monitor changes in temperature, and our teams implement appropriate corrective measures to provide comfortable working conditions.

“These measures include temporarily suspending work in areas reporting a high heat index. Our buildings are temperature controlled with HVAC solutions, have proper ventilation, offer adequate provision of water and ORS, and follow job rotation as well as work-rest cycles in case of high heat index.

“We are also sensitive to the needs of associates who may have prior health conditions, and our sites are equipped to provide additional emergency medical assistance to those who may need them, such as in cases of a heat stroke.”

Amazon India Workers Association (AIWA) convenor Dharmendra Kumar said these harsh working conditions have led workers to unionise in a bid to raise their demands, and alleged that complaints to Amazon and the labour ministry have resulted in no action.

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These recent grievances were part of a broader struggle that Amazon warehouse workers have been engaged in globally. For the past four years, workers have participated in the “make Amazon pay” movement, demanding safer working conditions and better wages.