The US state of New York is suing Amazon for allegedly inadequate protective measures for employees in the coronavirus pandemic. The world’s largest online retailer has violated labor law in the state by failing to ensure a safe work environment, New York Attorney General Letitia James said on Wednesday.
The allegations go even further: the multibillionaire Jeff Bezos’ group is also accused in the lawsuit of unlawfully firing and disciplining employees who protested against working conditions. “Amazon put profit above people,” said James. While the company made billions in the crisis, employees had to endure security risks.
Cared “deeply” about your health?
The company denied the allegations in a statement to US media. The group cares “deeply” about the health and safety of its employees. Amazon had already taken James to court last week to prevent their lawsuit. The public prosecutor exceeded her powers, the regulation of job security is not her.
Among other things, Amazon was criticized in April 2020 for the termination of an employee who had started a protest because the group allegedly had insufficiently protected employees in Staten Island from the corona virus. The man was dismissed because he violated quarantine requirements and thereby endangered colleagues, Amazon countered.
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