Lawmakers of the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) committee on Tuesday called for another hearing with senior representatives of tech giant Amazon this autumn, after a planned grilling with its senior executives didn't take place last month.
The timing of the hearing and of any planned visit to Amazon’s facilities in EU member states will be decided after the summer, sources with knowledge of the matter told Euronews.
In June, EMPL heard from trade unions and Amazon workers on the issue of workers’ rights, but not from a company representative, because the US tech giant didn't offer the specific senior manager requested by the EMPL committee.
Amazon said it would send two Europe-based vice-presidents, rather than Senior Vice President Russell Grandinetti, but the committee refused to hear from the proffered speakers.
As a result, some political groups called for further restrictions on the company, including a review of its contracts with the EU institutions.
A spokesperson for Amazon said that the company takes its engagement with policymakers "extremely seriously" and that it remains open to constructive dialogue.
"We hope the European Parliament will allow room for moderate voices and fact-based discussions, focused on the logistics industry more broadly and reflecting Amazon’s contributions to European economy and society," the spokesperson said.
Access badges
The Parliament has made the hearing a precondition for Amazon regaining access to its premises, after the tech giant's access badges were withdrawn in February 2024 because the company failed to attend a series of hearings and factory visits in 2021 and 2023 related to workers’ rights.
Amazon said in a statement last month it was disappointed by the committee’s decision.
The company also wrote to the President of the Parliament, Roberta Metsola, setting up a meeting with Senior Vice President for Global Affairs & Legal, David Zapolsky, in Washington, to “discuss broader policy issues of interest” to the Parliament.
Metsola said the matter is in the hands of the EMPL committee, according to a Parliament source.
Oliver Roethig, UNI Europa Regional Secretary, said in a statement to welcome the EMPL Committee’s decision "to maintain the Amazon lobby ban and reject the company’s attempt at evading public scrutiny in a closed-door meeting with Parliament President Roberta Metsola.”
“Now, we want to see to another, cross-committee hearing on the broader dimensions of Amazon’s abuse – its labour, tax, environmental and anti-competitive practices – and a visit to Amazon warehouses during peak season," he added.
