Amazon releases statement about their robots. (Image via Business Insider)

Amazon: Between Human & Robots

Last month, it was reported that machines will replace human jobs at the Amazon warehouses. This machine will remove about 24 job roles, which technically needs 2,000 employees to do. Moreover, back in November 2018, there was a protest from the UK-based GMB trade union organization that was saying Amazon is treating their employees in an inhuman manner.

The general secretary of GMB, Tim Roache, stated that Amazon made employees break their bones, knocked until unconscious, and taken away in ambulances. In contrast, Amazon denied the protest, saying their workplaces are safe and the protest is wrong.

Amazon’s CEO of worldwide consumer division, Jeff Wilke, said the robots they have now are helping Amazon to pay their employees higher wages. He also stated that the robots and its AI technology make the job easier and safer for their employees. It also helps their employees to have more creativity when doing their jobs.

Not only saying the robots helps Amazon to pay their employees higher wages, but Amazon did pay their employees higher wages. Starting October this year, the minimum wage in Amazon will be $15 per hour for all U.S. employees. Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, even challenged their competitors to match their employees’ benefits and the $15 minimum wage.

The Chief Technologist of Amazon, Tye Brady, said that human will always be needed even if they have numerous robots. He stated the robots will never be able to operate automatically; hence, humans will always be needed. 

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/05/robots-are-helping-amazon-pay-human-warehouse-workers-more-jeff-wilke.html