The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
PARIS, France — Amazon's French warehouses are set to reopen on Tuesday with about 30 percent of employees, three union officials said, ending a month-long dispute over whether the e-commerce giant was doing enough to protect workers from the coronavirus pandemic.
The US retailer's six French warehouses have been closed since a court backed union complaints, and ordered Amazon to restrict deliveries to essential items during the pandemic or face hefty fines.
The 10,600 permanent and temporary staff employed at the warehouses will progressively return to work by June 2, according to an agreement signed by five French unions last week and seen by Reuters.
During a first phase, starting on Tuesday and ending next Monday, a maximum of 50 percent of staff will be allowed to work, on a voluntary basis. As of Monday afternoon, about 30 percent of workers had volunteered to resume work on Tuesday, the three union officials said.
ADVERTISEMENT
A spokeswoman for Amazon declined to comment on the number of employees set to return to work on Tuesday.
"What we're interested in is that we can start over on a sound and sustainable basis," she said.
Under the deal, voluntary workers will get a bonus of €2 per hour until June 2. During that same period, employees who stay at home will still receive their full salary.
Amazon also agreed to reduce the working day by 15 minutes. That will create a delay of about 30 minutes between the morning and night shifts, reducing numbers in changing rooms and at entrance gates.
The agreement also lifts restrictions on what kind of products Amazon can send to clients across France.
The court had ruled Amazon should restrict deliveries to IT products, health items, food and pet food while the company reviewed its coronavirus-related health policies.
An external firm, Progexa, has been hired to review the health measures implemented by Amazon, the agreement said.
"We've buried the hatchet," said SUD union leader Laurent Degousée, who led the lawsuit against Amazon.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, Amazon said the deal made no fundamental changes to the measures it had already put in place when it decided to close its warehouses on April 16.
By Mathieu Rosemain; editor: Sarah White
Antitrust enforcers said Tapestry’s acquisition of Capri would raise prices on handbags and accessories in the affordable luxury sector, harming consumers.
As a push to maximise sales of its popular Samba model starts to weigh on its desirability, the German sportswear giant is betting on other retro sneaker styles to tap surging demand for the 1980s ‘Terrace’ look. But fashion cycles come and go, cautions Andrea Felsted.
The rental platform saw its stock soar last week after predicting it would hit a key profitability metric this year. A new marketing push and more robust inventory are the key to unlocking elusive growth, CEO Jenn Hyman tells BoF.
Nordstrom, Tod’s and L’Occitane are all pushing for privatisation. Ultimately, their fate will not be determined by whether they are under the scrutiny of public investors.