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Image: Irish Examiner
BY JASMINE BAILEY
An investigative
report on working conditions in an Amazon factory in Germany revealed poor living conditions,
low pay and even harsh intimidation by guards believed to be neo-Nazis.
The findings
were released in a thirty-minute documentary called “Delivered! Contract Workers at Amazon,”
and released by Germany’s ARD broadcasting network. It features temp workers who travel
in from Eastern European countries, like Spain and Poland, for the Christmas holiday.
The
BBC reports the workers lived in cramped conditions, often shared with others, that were far from
the Amazon factory. But the film also showed the workers being watch 24 hours a day by
burly German guards.
The guards worked for a company called HESS. They were caught
on camera repeatedly searching the rooms and kitchen of the foreign workers.
The
Independent translated what one Spanish worker said:
“’They tell us they are the police
here’, [she] complained. Workers were allegedly frisked to check they had not walked away
with breakfast rolls.”
But what would lead ARD to accuse the guards of being
neo-Nazis? Actually, they cite quite a few reasons. The first thing highlighted in the
documentary was that…
The guards wore “Thor Stenar” jackets—
clothing associated with members of Germany’s extreme right and for that reason, no longer
sold on Amazon.
The name of the security company— H.E.S.S.— also raised a few eyebrows.
They claim it stands for “Hensel European Security Services.” However, in an odd coincidence…
Hess
is the last name of Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess.
So why is this just now being
reported? And why have none of the workers come forward before? One reporter for ARD
explains that many of them go through harsh conditions because they don't have much of
a choice.
“All is not told in their recruitment in
their home countries. And because their home situation is so bad, in spite of everything
they earn relatively good money here, to fund their families.”
Amazon did not
directly hire HESS. Rather, the company was under contract to an employment agency. In
an email to the Associated Press, Amazon.de commented on the allegations of abusive working
conditions. Saying:
"Amazon tolerates no discrimination or intimidation…We are
currently reviewing the allegation made by the editors about the behavior of the security
staff and will immediately take appropriate measures.”
HESS Security has not
made any official comments on the allegation.