Amazon: $1.9M Settlement for Contract Worker Abuse, Human Rights Dispute

A lawsuit alleging Amazon abused its contract workers and violated their human rights will soon come to an end, this is because the company is paying them $1.9 million to settle the case and end the dispute. This centers on two warehouses of Amazon in Saudi Arabia, where migrant contract employees raised their complaints against the company for exploitative experiences.

This lawsuit centered on the poor living conditions its contract workers suffered, alongside salary irregularities and delays in their disbursement, and more.

Amazon to Settle Human Rights Abuse Lawsuit with $1.9M Payout

CNBC reported that Amazon now agreed to settle the human rights abuse lawsuit against them, with the company soon to pay a total of $1.9 million to the affected workers part of this complaint. A total of 700 migrants who are contract workers on Amazon will share the said settlement fees, deducting the legal assistance and more, compensating for their dreadful experiences.

Amazon acknowledged this complaint against them, hiring a third-party labor rights expert to investigate the workers and warehouse conditions.

It was found that there were multiple violations in Amazon's supply chain standards, with several other findings including "worker-paid recruitment fees to obtain employment with AFMCO, substandard living accommodations, contract and wage irregularities, and delays in the resolution of worker complaints."

What Did the Amazon Contract Workers Faced from the Company?

One of the most significant issues here is that workers have to pay as much as $2,040 to get hired in Amazon's Saudi Arabia warehouses, with NBC News regarding that most of them are from Nepal and had to take out loans to get the job.

Moreover, their living accommodations were poor, with as many as seven people staying in crowded rooms, infested beds, lacking basic facilities, and access to drinkable water.

Amazon and its Massive Employee Lawsuits

The renowned e-commerce company is infamous for its treatment of employees, with several lawsuits finding their way against the company and demanding better treatment and compensation. One of the most significant lawsuits against the company was the rest and meal break setup where warehouse workers pay to get them, including limited 30-minute breaks for their five-hour shift.

A different case filed in the District of Columbia also shifted the focus on Amazon's alleged maltreatment of drivers and delivery workers, with the lawsuit stating that the company steals driver tips. It was said that the reason behind the company collecting the earned tips of these drivers was to reduce labor costs, with Amazon opting to settle $60 million for its worldwide drivers.

Working conditions at Amazon are one of the most notorious as attested to by its employees, with several lawsuits falling on the company's doorsteps, with many leading to settlements. The latest settlement of the e-commerce giant is for its migrant contract workers in Saudi Arabia, soon giving them $1.9 million as part of the settlement wherein 700 laborers would share.