James Delahunty
19 Feb 2013 20:25
Amazon has confirmed that it terminated a contract with a German security firm that was providing protection at its warehouses, after a documentary showed serious abuse of workers.
The documentary aired last week, and prompted the German government to call for an investigation into workers' conditions at German Amazon warehouses. Following the documentary, Amazon said it terminated the contract with Hensel European Security Services (Hess) with immediate effect.
"Amazon has zero-tolerance for discrimination and intimidation and expects the same from every company we work with," a spokesperson said.
The documentary had drawn attention to the clothing worn by the security guards, and their alleged link to the neo-Nazi movement, as well as pointing out that the security firm shares the name "Hess" with Hitler's deputy Rudolf Hess. The firm denies suggestions of links to far-right wing politics.
Whether linked or not, the documentary exposed harsh harassment aimed at some workers in the warehouses, particularly those from Poland and Spain.