Labor Inspectorate proposes €5.8 million fine for Amazon for illegal hiring

17 outsourced companies employ workers for the multinational in precarious conditions

Amazon logistics center in Mollet del Vallès (image from Amazon)
Amazon logistics center in Mollet del Vallès (image from Amazon) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

August 11, 2022 11:33 AM

The Labor Inspectorate of the Spanish government has proposed a fine of €5.8 million for Amazon for the illegal hiring of workers. 

The body has found that up to 17 subcontracted companies – six of which are temporary work companies – have transferred 559 employees to the multinational in poorer working conditions than they should have been given. 

For this reason, the Labor Inspectorate proposes a penalty of almost €3.2 million for Amazon and a further €2.6 million to the subcontracted companies. 

This has come following an inspection that began last February in Barcelona ​​which found that these workers were given precarious working conditions, especially in terms of wages and job instability. In addition, the employees did not have legal representation.

Among the 17 outsourced companies are Randstad, Tipsa, and Ara Vinc.

Between 2019 and 2021, the Catalan government already imposed 22 sanctions on Amazon for non-compliance with labor regulations, amounting to €1.1 million. Of these, ten were also due to the illegal hiring of workers.