Employees at a warehouse operated by Amazon in Manesar, Haryana, claim they were forced to labor nonstop, even in sweltering temperatures above 50°C. As the nation struggles with an unprecedented heatwave, workers report dangerous working conditions that management has chosen to ignore.
Pledging To Work Without Breaks
Workers at the Manesar facility reportedly under pressure on May 16 to work nonstop in order to reach increased goals. It is said that managers gave employees orders to promise not to take any breaks until goals were reached, including to grab water or use the restroom. The management allegedly made the employees use plastic bottles to urinate during working hours so that they could keep track of their idle time.
Safety Concerns Amid Rising Temperatures
Although Amazon claims that employee safety and well-being are a top priority, many contend that the steps implemented are insufficient. The warehouse has fans and coolers, but they are not very efficient because the temperature in the working areas is frequently between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius.
Long Hours and High Targets
Employees put in ten-hour shifts, standing up for the majority of the time in an effort to fulfill strict deadlines. There are just two 30-minute breaks throughout the extreme heat. Stress among employees is increased by the shortage of seating; on an average, they make about Rs 10,000 a month.
Challenges for Female Workers
There are extra obstacles for female workers: many of them take refuge in bathrooms during breaks because break rooms are small and overheated. Managers, however, keep strict monitoring on the length of breaks and put pressure on employees to resume work promptly as possible.
Furthermore, AIWA presented the evidence of two workers, identified only as Ravish and Pooja, who stated that both men and women are required to labor in warehouses in stifling heat. Ravish claims that female workers are forced to take breaks in unclean restrooms.
Workers relate stories of colleagues fainting from the heat, getting very little help, and then being told to get back to work quickly. Particularly difficult working circumstances prevail for those who load and unload trucks, with trailers becoming unbearably hot.
Amazon’s Response
Amazon defends for its procedures, claiming that heat index sensors are installed at its locations and that steps are taken to create a suitable working atmosphere. Yet, employees claim that their complaints have not been resolved, which has prompted them to form a union in order to demand improved working conditions.
Global Movement for Worker Rights
The challenges encountered by Indian Amazon warehouse employees are a part of a broader worldwide movement that calls for better pay and safer working conditions. Controversial topics include Amazon’s stringent leave policy and claims that IDs are blocked for taking time off without permission.
It is becoming clear that more extensive measures are required to guarantee the welfare of workers in warehouses across the globe as long as Amazon employees keep raising these issues. Prioritizing essential rights such as, access to sufficient breaks, water, and protection from high temperatures must be done by companies like Amazon.
