AMAZON STAFF IN India have joined strike action calling for better wages and working conditions as the company prepares for one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.

About 200 warehouse workers and delivery drivers joined a rally in the capital, New Delhi, under a “Make Amazon pay” banner. Some donned masks mocking Amazon boss Jeff Bezos.

The walkout on Black Friday, which starts one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year, was repeated at Amazon warehouses in other countries as workers called for higher wages, better working conditions and union rights.

Nitesh Das, a union leader, said the workers took to the streets because they want the government to take up their cause.

In a statement, Amazon accused the workers of “intentionally misleading and continuing to promote a false narrative”.

“Our facilities are industry-leading and provide competitive pay, comfortable working conditions, and specially designed infrastructure to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all,” the company said.

“We’ve created more than 1.5 million jobs around the world, and counting, and we provide a modern, safe and engaging workplace whether you work in an office or at one of our operations buildings.”

A statement from the Amazon India Workers Union said similar protests are planned in other parts of India as well as in other countries, including the US, Germany, Japan and Brazil.

This year marks the fifth annual Make Amazon Pay demonstration, which aims to “hold Amazon accountable around the world” by targeting a busy holiday shopping weekend.

In 2023, Amazon represented 18% of the worldwide Black Friday sales, with more than $170 billion (€161 billion) in total holiday sales, according to an earnings report released earlier this year.

The demonstrations will call on Amazon to pay its workers fairly, respect their right to join unions, and commit to environmental sustainability, it said.

The union said it would submit a memorandum highlighting its demands to India’s labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya.