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| Coronavirus: Amazon extends closure of French warehouses | Coronavirus: Amazon extends closure of French warehouses |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Amazon will keep its six warehouses in France closed until at least Wednesday as a row about sanitary conditions continues. | Amazon will keep its six warehouses in France closed until at least Wednesday as a row about sanitary conditions continues. |
| Unions say that workers in the company's packaging centres are not being kept safe during the coronavirus pandemic. | Unions say that workers in the company's packaging centres are not being kept safe during the coronavirus pandemic. |
| Last week a French court ordered Amazon to limit its deliveries to essential items while checks were carried out. | |
| Nearly 20,000 people have died in France from Covid-19. | Nearly 20,000 people have died in France from Covid-19. |
| Global demand for online deliveries has skyrocketed as many countries closed shops to comply with coronavirus lockdowns. | Global demand for online deliveries has skyrocketed as many countries closed shops to comply with coronavirus lockdowns. |
| Amazon workers have raised concerns about their health and working conditions in Europe as well as in the US, claiming it is almost impossible to practice social distancing. | Amazon workers have raised concerns about their health and working conditions in Europe as well as in the US, claiming it is almost impossible to practice social distancing. |
| The company says its guidelines are adequate and that it provides employees with face masks. | The company says its guidelines are adequate and that it provides employees with face masks. |
| On Tuesday, a court ruled that it must limit deliveries while an investigation takes place into whether it is taking sufficient precautions to protect its staff. | On Tuesday, a court ruled that it must limit deliveries while an investigation takes place into whether it is taking sufficient precautions to protect its staff. |
| It followed legal action by the French union group Solidaires Unitaires Démocratiques (Sud), which claimed that more than 100 Amazon employees were forced to work in close proximity to each other. | It followed legal action by the French union group Solidaires Unitaires Démocratiques (Sud), which claimed that more than 100 Amazon employees were forced to work in close proximity to each other. |
| The court said Amazon had "failed to recognise its obligations regarding the security and health of its workers". | The court said Amazon had "failed to recognise its obligations regarding the security and health of its workers". |
| The company could have been fined €1m ($1.1m; £0.87m) per day if it had failed to comply. | The company could have been fined €1m ($1.1m; £0.87m) per day if it had failed to comply. |
| Amazon says it has presented evidence of compliance and that it will appeal the court's decision. It also said that the definition of essential goods was not clear. | Amazon says it has presented evidence of compliance and that it will appeal the court's decision. It also said that the definition of essential goods was not clear. |
| It closed its warehouses where items are processed and packaged on Thursday. That has now been extended to 22 April. | It closed its warehouses where items are processed and packaged on Thursday. That has now been extended to 22 April. |
| It says it aims to minimise disruption by using other warehouses in Europe to fulfil orders, but acknowledges there could be delays to deliveries of up to four weeks. | It says it aims to minimise disruption by using other warehouses in Europe to fulfil orders, but acknowledges there could be delays to deliveries of up to four weeks. |
| Last month, the France's finance minister Bruno Le Maire said that Amazon was putting "unacceptable" pressure on its workers by refusing to pay them if they didn't go into work. | Last month, the France's finance minister Bruno Le Maire said that Amazon was putting "unacceptable" pressure on its workers by refusing to pay them if they didn't go into work. |
| Earlier in March, several hundred Amazon workers there held a walk-out in protest against the company. | Earlier in March, several hundred Amazon workers there held a walk-out in protest against the company. |
| Unions argued that Amazon delivers very few groceries, while many of its deliveries are non-essential. | Unions argued that Amazon delivers very few groceries, while many of its deliveries are non-essential. |
| In March Amazon fired a worker in New York City who organised a protest over working conditions in warehouses. | In March Amazon fired a worker in New York City who organised a protest over working conditions in warehouses. |