Amazon And Walmart Trapping Workers In Poverty; Are Workers Safe?

In a shocking revelation, the United Nations said that the CEOs of Amazon, DoorDash and Walmart trapped workers in poverty, forcing them to rely on the United States Government to survive. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights urged Amazon, DoorDash and Walmart to pay appropriate wages to their workers.

Are workers safe in Amazon, DoorDash and Walmart? What is the salary of the workers? How to help workers affected by extreme poverty? What did the UN-appointed independent expert on extreme poverty and human rights say?

Workers trapped into poverty

Olivier De Schutter, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, said that wages at Amazon, DoorDash and Walmart trapped workers in poverty. Inadequate pay has trapped workers into poverty as they are struggling to afford basic items. Olivier De Schutter has said that workers are struggling to afford to eat or pay their rent in the United States. 

He reportedly said, “Employment is supposed to provide a route out of poverty, but in all three companies the business model seems to be to shift operating costs onto the public by relying on government benefits to supplement miserably low wages.”

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Why are workers unable to negotiate higher wages?

Workers at Amazon, DoorDash and Walmart are unable to negotiate higher wages because of aggressive union-busting activities. Employers at Amazon and Walmart spend millions of dollars to counter workers’ efforts to unionize. 

Workers at these three companies accept poverty wages because of the union-busting activities. Currently, around 6.3 million people are classified as working poor in the United States.

What did Olivier De Schutter say?

Olivier De Schutter wrote three separate letters to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, DoorDash CEO Tony Xu and Walmart CEO Doug McMillon. He urged the three companies to respond to reports of inadequate pay and aggressive union-busting tactics. 

He told UN News Global perspective Human stories, “Businesses have a responsibility to respect internationally recognised human rights, including the right to a living wage and to join a union without fear of reprisal.”

Meanwhile, ‘Make Amazon Pay’ Black Friday Workers’ strikes have been planned in 30 countries. Amazon workers will hold strikes and protests on Black Friday on 24 November in more than 30 countries. They will demand better wages from the company.

Some Amazon workers in the United Kingdom will also be striking between November 7 and 9, demanding better wages.