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I wonder if these numbers are actually just their full time employees or if they're including their migrant workers that they employee part time at fulfillment

I wonder if these numbers are actually just their full time employees or if they're including their migrant workers that they employee part time at fulfillment centers. Harper's ran a great article on Amazon's elderly migrant workforce back in August (paywalled): http://harpers.org/archive/2014/08/the-end-of-retirement/ http://harpers.org/archive/2014/08/the-end-of-retirement/

mathgeek 12y ago
I made the assumption that this is just corporate, development and the like. They certainly paint a very pretty picture that stands in rather stark contrast to the various stories about migrant workers.
superuser2 12y ago
Amazon does not actually own any warehouses, and it also likely doesn't employ any migrant workers. That is all contracted out. (Provides, among other things, plausible deniability and a liability shield for abuse claims/lawsuits by non-technical workers.)
- justcommenting 12y ago
  true and important, but also not unlike other large companies, e.g. facebook moderators http://www.wired.com/2014/10/content-moderation/ http://www.wired.com/2014/10/content-moderation/ as happy as i am about tim cook's support for "human rights" the other day, i wish he'd apply the concept to apple's suppliers and their subcontractors more vigorously. but i agree that the key here is to see through the various means of juking the stats on this and hold companies accountable, especially when they make sweeping claims.
- pattisapu 12y ago
  Some of the contractors they work with like ABM violate labor laws like the FLSA for overtime pay, making janitors work off the clock.
  - ultimape 12y ago
    Could you get more information on this?
    - pattisapu 12y ago
      http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/ABM-Security-Services-Lawsuit-Guards-Break-Periods-161994885.html http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/ABM-Security-Service... http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/global-cleaning-company-investigated-improperly-pa/nftnH/ http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/global-cleaning-company-inve... http://dockets.justia.com/docket/texas/txndce/3:2014cv03215/251267 http://dockets.justia.com/docket/texas/txndce/3:2014cv03215/...
- desdiv 12y ago
  What about this? http://www.amazonfulfillmentcareers.com/ http://www.amazonfulfillmentcareers.com/

mathgeek 12y ago

I made the assumption that this is just corporate, development and the like. They certainly paint a very pretty picture that stands in rather stark contrast to the various stories about migrant workers.

superuser2 12y ago

Amazon does not actually own any warehouses, and it also likely doesn't employ any migrant workers. That is all contracted out. (Provides, among other things, plausible deniability and a liability shield for abuse claims/lawsuits by non-technical workers.)

justcommenting 12y ago
true and important, but also not unlike other large companies, e.g. facebook moderators http://www.wired.com/2014/10/content-moderation/ http://www.wired.com/2014/10/content-moderation/ as happy as i am about tim cook's support for "human rights" the other day, i wish he'd apply the concept to apple's suppliers and their subcontractors more vigorously. but i agree that the key here is to see through the various means of juking the stats on this and hold companies accountable, especially when they make sweeping claims.
pattisapu 12y ago
Some of the contractors they work with like ABM violate labor laws like the FLSA for overtime pay, making janitors work off the clock.
- ultimape 12y ago
  Could you get more information on this?
  - pattisapu 12y ago
    http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/ABM-Security-Services-Lawsuit-Guards-Break-Periods-161994885.html http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/ABM-Security-Service... http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/global-cleaning-company-investigated-improperly-pa/nftnH/ http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/global-cleaning-company-inve... http://dockets.justia.com/docket/texas/txndce/3:2014cv03215/251267 http://dockets.justia.com/docket/texas/txndce/3:2014cv03215/...
desdiv 12y ago
What about this? http://www.amazonfulfillmentcareers.com/ http://www.amazonfulfillmentcareers.com/