**Amazon Workers in India Join Global Protest for Better Wages and Conditions**

Amazon employees in India have participated in a widespread strike to demand improved wages and working conditions during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. Approximately 200 warehouse workers and delivery drivers gathered in New Delhi, demonstrating under the "Make Amazon Pay" banner. Many protestors donned masks of Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos, to voice their dissent against the company's practices.

This walkout on Black Friday, a significant shopping day, was echoed by Amazon workers across several countries, all calling for higher wages, better working conditions, and union rights. According to Manish Kumar, a 25-year-old warehouse worker who protested in New Delhi, the current monthly basic salary of 10,000 rupees ($120) should be raised to at least 25,000 rupees ($295). Kumar highlighted the pressure-filled environment that employees endure.

Nitesh Das, a union leader, expressed that workers took to the streets to urge government intervention on their behalf. In response, Amazon issued a statement in India accusing the workers of promoting a false narrative. The company defended its practices by claiming that their facilities are industry-leading, offering competitive pay, comfortable working conditions, and specially designed infrastructure to ensure a safe and healthy workplace.

The Amazon India Workers Union announced plans for similar protests across other regions in India and internationally, including the United States, Germany, Japan, and Brazil. The demonstrations aim to push Amazon to fairly compensate its workers, respect their union rights, and commit to environmental sustainability. The union also plans to submit a memorandum of their demands to India's Labor Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya.

The workforce in India's gig economy, fueled by rapid economic growth, often faces low wages and harsh working conditions. In June 2023, India's National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to Amazon following reports that workers were forced to work without breaks during peak summer heat. Amazon India has denied these allegations.