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Workers from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan who were recruited to work at an Amazon facility in Saudi Arabia have come forward with allegations that they were scammed and exploited by their recruiters.
The workers, who have not been identified, allege that their recruiters promised them good-paying jobs with Amazon, only to discover that they were being paid far below the minimum wage and were made to toil for hours in the hot desert with very little rest.
The workers also said that their recruiters had confiscated their passports and refused to return them until they had paid exorbitant fees for their visas. Furthermore, in some cases, the recruiters had threatened to harm these workers if they refused to work or to “kill us or send us home” if they complained of the poor working conditions.
“I had no choice but to obey and work in the hot sun,” one worker, who remains anonymous, told Al Jazeera.
In response to the allegations, Amazon has said it is investigating these issues and is “committed to providing a fair, safe and positive work environment for all our employees.”
The company also noted that it has implemented a number of measures to ensure that its workers are treated with respect and dignity, such as providing health and safety training, conducting regular inspections of the facilities, and encouraging workers to report any concerns.
The workers’ allegations illustrate the danger and exploitation associated with reckless recruitment practices and underscore the need for better regulation and oversight. Companies like Amazon must ensure that they are not partaking in exploitative practices and must be held accountable if they are found to be doing so.