FILE – Amazon’s corporate logo on the facade of a corporate building in Schönefeld, near Berlin, on March 18, 2022. Thursday, August 3, 2023 Amazon posted better-than-expected sales and profits in its second quarter, sending its stock price lower. Up in after-hours trading. (AP Photo/Michael Thorne, File)
(NewsNation) — A United Nations poverty expert challenges the CEOs of three major corporations, claiming that low wages are forcing workers to rely on government aid to survive. calls for action to be taken.
Olivier de Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, wrote to the leaders of Amazon, Walmart and DoorDash, saying in a news release on Tuesday: Failure to pay appropriate wages does not violate the human rights of workers. ”
“I am deeply disturbed that employees of some of the world’s most profitable companies in one of the richest countries on earth are struggling to put food on the table and pay their rent. ” added De Schutter.
UN experts noted that all three companies were listed in a 2020 government report as among the top employers of people receiving government health and food aid.
In its response to Mr. de Schutter’s letter, Amazon said the company invested $1.3 billion in wage increases in the U.S. this year, increasing average hourly wages to $20.50 an hour. Amazon said a full-time worker earning a starting wage of $17 an hour would earn $2,944 a month and would “likely be disqualified from SNAP and Medicaid.”
In its response, Walmart said its average starting wage is more than $15.25 an hour and the average hourly wage for all employees is more than $17 an hour.
“While we understand the intent of your letter, we take issue with the multiple factual inaccuracies and mischaracterizations of our employees that are reinforced by citations of old studies, articles, and anecdotes. ” the company said.
DoorDash has not yet responded.
De Schutter’s letter to both companies also focused on independent contractor policies and allegations of union busting.
“The United States has turned a blind eye to the union-busting activities of its most powerful companies, leaving workers on poverty wages while corporate profits soar,” De Schutter said in a statement. It seems like they are forcing the government to accept it.”
Both Amazon and Walmart denied the allegations.