Human rights commission issues notice to Centre over anti-labour practices in Amazon's Manesar warehouse

The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to Centre over alleged “anti-labour practices” at Amazon India's Manesar warehouse. The commission took suo motu cognisance of a media report that stated that at one of Amazon India’s warehouses "a 24-year-old worker was asked to pledge that they would not take toilet or water breaks until they finished unloading packages from six trucks, each measuring 24 feet long, after their team's 30-minute tea break had ended".

Notice to Centre over Amazon India

As per Business Today, the Commission stated that if the contents of the report are true then this tantamounts to serious human rights violation of the workers as well as violation of labour laws and guidelines by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment.

In the proceedings of the case shared by NHRC, it said "a female employee at the Manesar warehouse reportedly stated that no restroom facilities are available on the working sites.”

Meanwhile, an Amazon India spokesperson had told Business Today that the safety and well-being of the employees are its top priority.

“The safety and wellbeing of our employees and associates is our top priority. We’re confident the infrastructure and facilities at our fulfilment centres are industry leading, designed to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment for our employees and associates”, Amazon India Spokesperson told Business Today.

The Spokesperson further added that the firm has heat index monitoring devices and that the company constantly monitors changes in temperature, especially during the summer months. If the heat or humidity inside the buildings increase, then they take action to provide comfortable working conditions, including temporarily suspending work. “We have cooling measures in all our buildings, including ventilation systems, fans, and spot coolers," the spokesperson added.

The Human rights commission has however highlighted that even if the workers work continuously without breaks, including the 30-minute lunch and tea breaks, they would not be able to unload more than four trucks a day.

NHRC further highlighted that five warehouses in and around Manesar are accused of violating regulations outlined in the Factories Act, 1948. The commission has also issued a notice to the Secretary of Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, and has sought a detailed report within a week.

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