Amazon drivers forced into long hours to make deliveries: Report

Drivers delivering parcels for Amazon are being forced to work long hours, use bags for toilets and exceed the speed limit to meet delivery targets, reveals an investigation into working conditions t the e-commerce giant.

The  conditions of work were revealed  by an undercover reporter for the BBC who was  investigating  AHC Services, one of the agencies that provided delivery drivers for the Amazon Logistics branch in the south of England.

Drivers were reportedly expected to deliver up to 200 packages every day, and according to the BBC journalist. During a two-week period working at an Amazon depot in Bristol, he had to work under conditions that were in violation of UK labour laws.

He had to work over 11 hours per day and was paid a flat rate of £110 for each completed delivery route. In the first week, he was paid £93.47 for three days of work after the company made a number of deductions including administration fees, vehicle hire and insurance, after which, according to the BBC , his actual pay worked out to £2.59 per hour.

In the second week, he worked four days, receiving the equivalent of £4.76 per hour. He was also expected to be available to work six days a week.

The report further claimed that drivers said they were effectively paid less than the minimum wage of £7.20, due to the long hours worked to deliver all their assigned parcels.

The Guardian quoted a spokesman for Amazon, ''Over 100 small and medium-sized businesses across the UK are providing work opportunities to thousands of people delivering parcels to Amazon customers. We are committed to ensuring that the people contracted by our independent delivery providers are fairly compensated, treated with respect, follow all applicable laws and drive safely,'' reported.