Amazon is a “wealthy company” which should share some of that wealth with its workers, Scotland’s economy secretary has said.
Amazon is a “wealthy company” which should share some of that wealth with its workers, Scotland’s economy secretary has said.
Keith Brown will talk to Amazon bosses this week about working conditions at a Scottish distribution centre and is also expected to meet staff members during the visit to the depot in Dunfermline.
Amazon said that it provides a safe and positive workplace with competitive pay and benefit but Mr Brown told BBC Radio Scotland that he would urge the multinational online retailer to pay its employees a “living wage”.
This month The Sunday Times reported that staff in Dunfermline face the sack if they are off sick for four days, even with a doctor’s note.
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In the Scottish parliament, Willie Rennie, North East Fife MSP, said that he had been contacted by constituents who reported “intolerable” working conditions.
Mr Brown will also call on the company to pay a living wage of £8.45 an hour. Mr Brown said: “It’s a very wealthy company, we want to see that wealth shared with its employees, to ensure that there are fair work practices there and employees are properly rewarded in terms of the living wage.”
A spokeswoman for the online retail company said: “Amazon provides a safe and positive workplace with competitive pay and benefits from day one.”