In a decision handed down on 14 April, on a case brought by the trade union Union Syndicale Solidaires, the court in Nanterre ordered Amazon to limit its business to essential items (hygiene, medical and food items) within 24 hours. The measure will remain in place while an assessment is conducted, in consultation with employee representatives, to gauge the risks related to Covid-19 as well as measures taken to protect employees of the e-commerce giant. As such, Amazon France plans to close its distribution centres for a week while it conducts an assessment of the potential health risks to its employees. However the firm has said that it will appeal the decision, even though the scope of this appeal is symbolic.
Following the order, Amazon France has 24 hours to comply. For each infringement and day of delay, the company will have to pay a €1 million fine. In order to resume normal activity, it must assess, in consultation with employee representatives, the risks related to the Covid-19 epidemic in all of its six warehouses, as well as those related to the employee health protection measures put in place in response to the epidemic.
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