"Only 27 out of 20,000" Amazon Faces Controversy Over Downplaying Internal Infection Scale

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Allegations have been raised that Amazon in the United States significantly downplayed the scale of COVID-19 infections within the company. Out of a total of 20,000 confirmed cases, only 27 were considered workplace infections.

Bloomberg News reported on the 30th (local time) that "labor union groups have requested a federal government investigation, stating that Amazon provided misleading or uncertain information regarding COVID-19 infection statistics within company workplaces."

The Strategic Organizing Center (SOC), established jointly by four unions including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), reviewed Amazon's publicly released annual workplace illness and injury data. They found that about 20,000 Amazon employees tested positive for COVID-19 last year, but Amazon classified only 27 of these cases as workplace infections.

Eric Prumin, SOC's Director of Health and Safety, criticized, "How can they say only 27 out of 20,000 confirmed cases were workplace infections? This contradicts science and logic."

In response, Amazon argued that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also acknowledges that it is very difficult to prove COVID-19 infections occurred at the workplace.

Kelly Nantel, Amazon spokesperson, told Bloomberg News, "We operate clinics where employees can get vaccinated and tested for COVID-19 at the workplace, and we have spent over $15 billion (approximately 17.7 trillion KRW) on extensive contact tracing."

However, Amazon employees, union groups, and government officials have consistently voiced that Amazon has been reluctant to protect employees from COVID-19 or share related information.

Stephen Markowitz, an infectious disease expert at the City University of New York, said, "The federal government should take a broader look at Amazon's case and wants to know how only 27 out of 20,000 confirmed cases were classified as workplace infections."

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