E-commerce giant Amazon was recently ordered to close its warehouses in France until at least early next week. The company has been ordered to limit deliveries to essential goods such as food and medical supplies.
According to Reuters reports, in an internal document sent to French unions ahead of a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Amazon said it planned to close the country’s six warehouses, from April 16 until April 20 at least.
The company’s French warehouses reportedly employ 10,000 permanent and interim workers. During the suspension, Amazon will tap a state partial unemployment scheme to pay these employees.
“The company is forced to suspend all production activities in all of its distribution centers in order to assess the inherent risks in the COVID-19 epidemic and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of its employees (during that period),” Amazon said in the document seen by Reuters.
In a ruling on Tuesday, a French court said Amazon had to carry out a more thorough assessment of the risk of coronavirus contagion at its warehouses and should restrict its deliveries in the meantime, or face a fine. The case followed a complaint filed by Union Syndicale Solidaires, a French group of trade unions.
“We’re puzzled by the court ruling given the hard evidence brought forward regarding security measures put in place to protect our employees”, Amazon said in a statement.
“Our interpretation suggests that we may be forced to suspend the activity of our distribution centres in France,” the group said, adding it would appeal the decision.
The case followed a complaint filed by Union Syndicale Solidaires, a French group of trade unions.
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