In a shocking revelation, Amazon India has been reported to be using children for delivering goods to its customers. The e-commerce giant has been issued a notice by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) regarding the same.
This was reported by an Amazon customer, Sougat Ghosh, who took it to the micro-blogging platform Twitter for expressing his concerns with the government.
@ministryWCD @sushmaswaraj Amazon india using child labour to deliver goods. Informing on FB is ignored. What to do?
— Sougat Ghosh (@sougat_gh) 4 January 2017
“I had ordered Colgate toothpaste from Amazon on Dec 26, 2016. I saw two children come to my house to deliver the goods and one of them handed me the goods and was less than 15 years old. The other child was 6-8 years old and was carrying more consignments,” Ghosh complained via an email to NCPCR.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development have been informed via the social media and the government has already taken an appropriate action as seen in the tweet below:
Dear @sougat_gh, please note the response from @amazonIN. Responsible citizens like you can surely make an impact on society. pic.twitter.com/JxpXWsJHef
— Maneka Gandhi (@Manekagandhibjp) 6 January 2017
Amazon India has been asked to come up with a detailed explanation regarding this incidence by the NCPCR within 7 working days, failing which it will have to face a legal action.
However, in a recent tweet Amazon India has mentioned that it doesn’t employ anyone below 18 years of age and is investing the case and will take an “action against any violation”.
Amazon Will Be Held Responsible No Matter What
Amazon India delivers its shipments through third party logistics as well as its own delivery service called Amazon Transportation Services.
If it is found that the violation is committed even by the third party logistics employed by Amazon, then the e-commerce giant will face legal action as the it is the responsibility of the company to ensure that no child labour is employed anywhere throughout its supply chain.
“Amazon will be held accountable even if this is a violation committed by an agency it outsourced its courier services to. It is the responsibility of the company to ensure that there is no child being illegally employed in its entire supply chain,” said Yashwant Jain, NCPCR member on child labour.
It is worth noting that according to the new anti-child labour law, it is prohibited to employ children below 14 years of age into any occupation, and between 14-18 years in any hazardous occupation.
Amazon is known for its customer-centric approach all across the globe and such an incident might land the e-commerce giant into a huge trouble.
What actually happened will be uncovered in due course of time. But if you have noticed any such thing regarding child-labour, then don’t hesitate to contact the Ministry of Women and Child Development on Twitter at @ministryWCD. Your voice can make a difference and help a child.
