Amazon's seasonal workers

[newtimes]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21488816" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Germany is demanding explanations from the online retail giant Amazon after a TV documentary showed seasonal workers being harassed by security guards.

A TV documentary by state broadcaster ARD said employees' rooms were searched, they were frisked at breakfast and constantly watched.

Employment Minister Ursula von der Leyen said some employment agencies could lose their operating licences.

In a statement, Amazon said it would follow up complaints.

"The suspicion weighs heavily; therefore all facts must be put on the table as quickly as possible," Mrs von der Leyen told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

"If the special investigation finds that there is some substance to the complaints against the employment agencies, then their licences are in question."

The film showed the living and working conditions of agency workers brought in to help with the Christmas rush, principally at an Amazon warehouse in Bad Hersfeld, in the state of Hesse.

It showed staff living quarters in cramped holiday accommodation a long way from the Amazon warehouse, which could only be reached by an unreliable bus service.

Many of the temporary workers came from Spain and Poland. Workers from outside Germany were shown as receiving the worst harassment from security guards from a private firm, Hensel European Security Services (Hess).

Hess was under contract to an employment agency, not to Amazon itself.

The firm said it rejected allegations that it supported the far-right. However, it confirmed its guards had carried out room searches.

In a statement on Friday, Amazon said: "Our goal is to deliver orders quickly and reliably to our customers.

"We know this only works with a contented workforce... We will follow up each incident in our logistics centres and their surroundings which is brought to our attention by our staff, and if need be, will implement thorough improvements."

[DB1100]

Not the best name for a security firm in Germany,especially one that's giving Polish workers a hard time.

[baldrick]

More detailed report in the Independent:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 95843.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Amazon dismisses German warehouse security firm http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21496781" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Online retailer Amazon has ended the contract of a security firm employed at one of its German warehouses, following complaints about workers' conditions.

The company, Hensel European Security Services (Hess), was accused of harassing seasonal workers in a TV documentary aired last week.

It prompted calls for an investigation from the German government.

Amazon said it had now terminated its relationship with the firm "with immediate effect".

"Amazon has zero-tolerance for discrimination and intimidation and expects the same from every company we work with," a spokesperson for Amazon said.

The documentary by state broadcaster ARD showed the conditions of employees at the warehouse in Bad Hersfeld, in the state of Hesse, brought in to help with the Christmas rush.

It claimed employees' rooms were searched, they were frisked at breakfast and constantly watched.

Many of the temporary workers came from Spain and Poland, and foreign workers were shown receiving the worst harassment from security guards.

Hess was under contract to an employment agency, not to Amazon itself.

Hess shares its name with Hitler's deputy in the Nazi party Rudolf Hess, and the documentary showed security guards wearing branded clothing linked with the neo-Nazi movement.

Last week the firm denied suggestions that it supported far-right political views.

[dvbuk55]

Zeig Amazon then