This morning, Amazon once again proved it has no interest in democratic accountability or workers’ rights. Despite telling the European Parliament that it wished to “work constructively,” the tech giant refused to attend today’s EMPL Committee public hearing on working conditions in Amazon warehouses. The hearing brought together trade union leaders and warehouse workers from across Europe to give powerful testimony on Amazon’s exploitative practices, but Amazon left its seat empty.
For The Left in the European Parliament, this silence speaks volumes
During the hearing, Left MEP Leila Chaibi (La France Insoumise, France) said: “Amazon’s absence is not just cowardly, it’s contemptuous. I have gone to meet Amazon employees myself in April and I have heard the horror stories, today we all understand from the speakers that things are not getting better. And yet, they refuse to come answer for themselves. How long will this company be allowed to operate with impunity? We call on the European Parliament to terminate all its current contracts with Amazon.”
Left MEP Per Clausen (Enhedslisten, Denmark) added: “I am appalled to hear about the conditions that Amazon offers its employees. Not just miserable working conditions, redundancies of workers who attempt to unionise, excessive surveillance and no respect for the workers’ rights at all.” Per further added “It is grotesque to see how American billionaires come to Europe to make lots of money, while showing clear contempt for our labor market system and our workers. I think its grotesque. But what I think is even more grotesque is that we can actually see public authorities paying money to Amazon through public procurement contracts. We have to stop this.”
Workers Speak Out
Testimony from union representatives like Monika Di Silvestre (Ver.di, Germany), Agata Wypiór (Solidarność, Poland), and Maria Malinowska (Workers’ Initiative, Poland) painted a sobering picture: Relentless algorithmic surveillance and pressure to meet inhumane productivity targets, high injury rates in warehouses exceeding industry averages by far, retaliation against workers who organise or speak out.
Oliver Roethig, Regional Secretary of UNI Europa the European Services Workers Union, reinforced the pattern: Amazon uses its power to intimidate and suppress organising efforts, and their global business model relies on eroding labour protections.
The Left’s Clear Demands
In response to Amazon’s absence and continued abuses of workers, The Left is calling on the European Parliament to take immediate action.
We demand:
- That access badges of Amazon lobbyists to the institution remain withdrawn.
- That Amazon CEO Andy Jassy be invited to a cross-committee hearing on the company’s labour, tax, environmental, and anti-competitive record.
- That all contracts between EU institutions and Amazon be investigated under EU procurement law and ILO conventions — and terminated if found in breach.
Amazon’s corporate empire is built on precarious jobs, tax avoidance, and political influence. Today’s hearing made that clear. But its refusal to appear before the elected representatives of EU citizens shows one thing more: Amazon believes it is above accountability.
We believe the opposite. That no company is above the law. That workers deserve dignity. And that EU public money must serve the public good—not corporate exploitation.
The Left will keep fighting until Amazon, and companies like it, face consequences, not just questions.
