Amazon told ‘they should be ashamed of themselves’ after workers spotted sleeping in TENTS outside Dunfermline base
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie slammed the company for paying workers so little that they’ve resorted to camping out
AMAZON have been told they should be ashamed of themselves after workers were spotted sleeping in TENTS beside the retail giant’s Dunfermline base.
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie slammed the company for paying workers so little that they’ve resorted to camping out.
Workers told how it was easier and cheaper than commuting every day after
Willie Rennie said: “Amazon should be ashamed that they pay their workers so little that they have to camp out in the dead of winter to make ends meet.
“Amazon need to take a long, hard look at themselves and change their ways.
“They pay a small amount of tax and received millions of the pounds from the SNP Government so the least they should do is pay the proper living wage.
“The fares the company charge for transport swallow up a lot of the weekly wage which is forcing people to seek ever more desperate ways of making work pay.“
According to , at least three tents have been spotted outside the base in recent days, sparking concerns about employees.
One worker described the company as a “poor employer” as he told how sleeping outside was cheaper than commuting to the facility from Perth.
His camping equipment was gone by Friday afternoon but another tent appears to be abandoned.
The company came under fire last month from activists who said employees were badly treated.
It was also claimed that agency workers are doing up to 60 hours per week for just over the minimum wage.
But Amazon, who has around 1,500 permanent staff at its Fife base, dismissed the allegations and said it values its workers.
Earlier this year, Mr Rennie demanded that the company receives no more public cash until they could guarantee higher wages.
The move came after suggestions that some staff were paid well below the current living wage of £8.45 an hour.
A spokesperson for Amazon said: “Amazon provides a safe and positive workplace.
“The safety and wellbeing of our permanent and temporary associates is our number one priority.
“We are also proud to have been able to create several thousand new permanent roles in our UK fulfilment centres over the last five years.
“We pay competitive wages — all permanent and temporary Amazon associates start on £7.35 an hour or above regardless of age and £11 an hour and above for overtime.”