Amazon announced Thursday it wanted to extend until May 13, including the suspension of the activity of its distribution centers in France, after a court decision requiring it to assess the risks associated with the Covid-19 epidemic. The American logistics giant, who will propose this extension during a central social and economic committee of the group on Friday, also announced that it will appeal to the Cour de Cassation to "contest the decision of the Versailles Court of Appeal" of April 24, giving reason to unions.
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"The penalty, as specified by the Court of Appeal, obliges us to consider continuing the suspension of activity of our French distribution centers until Wednesday May 13 inclusive. At the same time, we continue to work with our social partners and to assess the best way to operate our distribution centers in the light of the Court's decision, "the group said in a statement.
Distribution centers closed since April 16
Amazon's distribution centers have been closed since April 16 and its employees have been staying at home since but are paid their full salary after the government rejected a request for partial unemployment. The Versailles Court of Appeal ruled on April 24 that the unions demanded a real assessment of the risks associated with the new coronavirus, confirming a decision by the Nanterre court ten days earlier.
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The Court of Appeal clarified and widened the list of products that Amazon can continue to deliver pending this assessment and set a penalty of 100,000 euros per offense. "We reiterate our disagreement with the recent court decisions which have been pronounced and have decided to appeal to the Court of Cassation," he added. "Our customers in France can order several million products from independent companies that sell on Amazon and through our global logistics network," said the group.