Amazon Distribution Center in Austria Raided Today
According to news reports from Austria, the 63 officers from the Austrian Financial Police (Finanzpolizei) raided an Amazon distribution center in Großebersdorf today, ceasing employment records and checking employment status and work history of drivers.
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The raid was not aimed at Amazon, and there is no investigation against the company. The raid focused on the subcontractors Amazon uses to deliver its packages from this distribution center.
In total, during the raid, the police checked 174 employees from 36 Amazon delivery companies and found 49 violations of labor law. However, the Finance Police may be investigating approximately 500 employees from the delivery companies.
The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance estimates the delivery companies collectively may owe up to 385,000 Euros ($415,000) in various taxes and fines, mostly from underreporting or non-payment of employment taxes.
Amazon cooperated with the Finance Police and stated to the media that it expects its delivery partners to comply with all labor laws. Further, the company said it would take action against contractors that violate applicable laws and its rules and regulations.
Vienna is a Growing Market for Amazon
The Amazon distribution center in Großebersdorf serves the larger Vienna metro area. It is estimated to handle about 50,000 packages per day, many of which were delayed today due to the raid.
Ironically, the raid happened during a press tour as the company was showing off the modern distribution center it opened in 2018. Amazon has a second distribution center coming online in Vienna later in April.
Do you think Amazon is doing enough to monitor the contractors it hires to deliver its packages?
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Richard Meldner
Richard is co-founder of eSeller365. He has over 17 years of experience on eBay which includes tens of thousands of sales to buyers in over 100 countries and even has experience with eBay’s VeRO program enforcing intellectual property rights for a former employer. And for about two years Richard sold products on Amazon using Amazon FBA in the US.
To “relax” from the daily business grind, for a few weekends a year, he also works for IMSA as a professional race official.