Delivery drivers for Amazon are being forced to do unpaid training courses on their days’ off for minor mistakes.
Unions and experts accused the web giant of failing workers this summer.
Amazon Prime Day on June 21 and 22 saw shoppers snap up sales bargains.
But couriers delivering the products have said they have been ordered to do mandatory training after making small errors.
One courier, who wished to remain anonymous to protect his job, said after failing to ask a customer for proof of age for a parcel he was ordered to attend unpaid training on his day off.
The courier said: “Many of the drivers show loyalty to Amazon but Amazon never fails not to show loyalty to us.
“The drivers are routinely threatened with the sack if they make minor mistakes.
“On the face of it we are self-employed drivers working with small courier companies to deliver goods for Amazon.
"But in reality we work for Amazon.
“Despite that we don’t enjoy any of the benefits of contracted work, including protection from dismissal for trivial reasons.
“I forgot to ask for ID from one customer during a busy run and was told I would need to attend a mandatory course on my day off with no pay because of it. Failure to attend and pass the training would see my sacked. It’s an incredible price to pay for a small error.”
Professor Phil Taylor, of Strathclyde University, who has studied working practices at the web giant, said: “Such action against drivers seems to be straight out of the company’s playbook of reported draconian treatment of many of its employees”.
Acting GMB Scotland Secretary Louise Gilmour said: “This is a clear demonstration of why workers in Amazon need access to trade unions and collective agreements.
“Mistakes will inevitably happen in highly demanding and pressurised environments but it’s just wrong to punish already low-paid people in this way.”
Amazon tripled its global profits in the first three months of the year to £5.8billion. It stressed drivers were not employed by it but via independent delivery companies.
A spokeswoman said: “We take our responsibility in relation to the sale of age-restricted items extremely seriously and have strict processes in place for all age-restricted deliveries.
“We expect all drivers to comply with this important process, without exception, and will take appropriate action if necessary.”
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