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Amazon to create 1,000 UK jobs amid tax scandals

Internet retailer Amazon has announced that it will create 1,000 new permanent jobs in the UK at its distribution centres.

The firm said it would add the jobs to its existing 6,000-strong workforce in its 8 distribution and customer service centres.

The firm said jobs would be created across its distribution centres in Doncaster, Dunfermline, Gourock, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Rugeley and Swansea Bay.

Amazon said it had already increased its UK workforce by 2,000 people over the past two years.

Amazon’s director of UK operations, John Tagawa said: “As we see greater demand, we are able to rapidly grow our talented team across the UK.”

“Over the past two years, we have added well in excess of 2,000 new employees to our workforce and we are delighted to be able to add a further 1,000 to that number over the coming months.

“We have continued to focus day in, day out on providing the very best shopping experience for our customers and as we see greater demand, we are able to rapidly grow our talented team across the UK.”

The online retailer said it had also made changes to the way its staff worked “for the benefit of its entire workforce”.

The changes made include staff now working four longer days a week of 10 hours per shift and share grants for staff who have worked for the firm for more than a year.

It said permanent staff started on an average of £7.39 per hour, and could earn up to £8.90 per hour after 24 months.

However it is a turbulent time for Amazon, as it was announced last week that the firm is to be investigatedby the European Commission over its tax affairs.

It will examine a 2003 agreement between Luxembourg and the retailer because it said most of Amazon’s European profits are recorded in Luxembourg but are not taxed in the state.

There was public outcry in the UK when it emerged that the online retailer had only paid £4.2 million worth of tax leading to calls of a boycott.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .