Amazon lobbyists have been banned from the European Parliament after refusing to attend a hearing on the appalling working conditions in its warehouses.
At the hearing in January, MEPs heard from workers how they are “considered robots” tasked with achieving impossible productivity targets under constant surveillance.
Today’s decision comes after UNI Europa, who represent Amazon workers, coordinated a letter to Parliament President Roberta Metsola which called for the company’s lobby passes to be revoked.
ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said:
“EU policy-making is not for sale. We congratulate the EU Parliament and the College of Quaestors for taking a stand for democracy.
"Amazon refuses to answer to the EU Parliament, and it is only right that its access be removed. We call for this decision to apply to all Amazon lobbyists, including its consultants.
“This must mark the start of a long-overdue process. Currently, it pays for corporations to invest in changing EU laws in their favour. Brussels has the largest number of corporate lobbyists of any city in Europe, second only worldwide to Washington DC. Instead, institutional access should be reserved for democratic and representative organisations.
"The next step is to ensure that corporations receiving EU funding play by the rules. Amazon has received millions in EU funding while brazenly undermining the European social model. All public funding must come with a clear set of conditions in future, which includes workers having collectively bargained pay and conditions."
