With around 1.5 million employees, Amazon is one of the world’s largest employers. In Germany, the number is expected to rise to 40,000 by the end of the year, the majority in logistics. They are set to receive more money.
The US company Amazon wants to increase the starting salary for its logistics employees by one euro to 15 euros and more. The German Amazon company announced this on Wednesday in Munich. This is to apply from September, and the company has started talks with the works councils. The previous starting salary was 14 euros “and more” – the latter means that salaries can vary slightly from region to region.
According to the company, the salary increase also includes support for further training opportunities worth up to 8,000 euros and a free Germany ticket for regional public transport by bus and train.
In the spring, employers and the Verdi union agreed on wage increases in this year’s collective bargaining round in logistics in several federal states. Amazon management has always rejected collective bargaining agreements, a long-standing point of contention with Verdi.
According to the company, well over 20,000 Amazon employees currently work in logistics in Germany. Including the other company divisions, the total number of permanent employees in Germany is expected to rise to 40,000 by the end of the year, which would be 4,000 more than last year.
Amazon has expanded its market share in online retail in Germany in recent years and has hired new employees accordingly. Another logistics center is due to open in Horn-Bad Meinberg in late summer, following the opening of a new location in Erfurt in May.
Source: Stern
