An Amazon.com Inc driver stands next to an Amazon delivery truck in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 21, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Lucy Nicholson A U.S. watchdog group criticized Amazon.com Inc and contract manufacturer Foxconn over what it described as harsh working conditions at a plant in China that makes the retail giant’s Echo Dot smart speaker and Kindle e-reader. The 94-page report by New York-based China Labor Watch cited excessive hours, low wages, inadequate training and an overreliance on “dispatch” or temporary workers in violation of Chinese law at the Hengyang Foxconn plant in Hunan province. Taiwan-based Foxconn, known formally as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, is the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer and employs more than a million people. Foxconn, which also makes Apple Inc iPhones, came under fire in 2010 for a spate of suicides at plants in China. Foxconn pledged to improve working conditions. China Labor Watch said … [Read more...] about Rights group hits Amazon, Foxconn over China labor conditions
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Amazon blocks Australia from global sites over tax
US internet giant Amazon will block Australian shoppers from its international websites to counter new tax laws on online purchases, it announced Thursday (May 31). Amazon said Australian shoppers wanting to use its global platforms will instead be directed to its smaller Australian site, which offers much less for sale. (Photo: AFP/Mark Makela) New rules require internet retailers like the American behemoth to collect a 10 per cent goods and services tax on everything bought from overseas sites from Jul 1, including under the current tax-free threshold of AU$1,000 (US$760). As a result, Amazon said Australian shoppers wanting to use its global platforms will instead be directed to its smaller Australian site, which offers much less for sale. Amazon reportedly baulked at the massive administrative burden of tracking GST from all overseas transactions. "While we regret any inconvenience this may cause customers, we have had to assess the workability of the legislation as a … [Read more...] about Amazon blocks Australia from global sites over tax
Amazon Web Services stands behind Vietnamese startup community
Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon, is promoting the AWS Activate programme to support the growth of startups in Vietnam. Vietnamese startup Amanotes uses Aamazon Web Service's platform to go global According to Paul Chen, head of Solutions Architect, ASEAN at AWS, the company provides startups with the low cost, easy to use infrastructure needed to scale and grow. The AWS Activate programme will provide Vietnamese startups with the resources they need to quickly get started on AWS—including credits, training, and support. “We have Portfolio packages for startups in select accelerators, incubators, seed/VC funds, and other startup enabling organisations, as well as the Builders package for entrepreneurs just getting started,” he said, noting that some of the world’s hottest startups use AWS, including Airbnb, Lyft, and Slack. Amanotes is a successful Vietnamese startup with technology backup from AWS. The startup builds a music … [Read more...] about Amazon Web Services stands behind Vietnamese startup community
Amazon to double down on groceries; foray deeper into fresh produce in India
Amazon.com Inc expects groceries and household products to account for over half of its business in India in the next five years, as it moves to broaden offerings in the segment and foray into areas such as fresh produce. Amit Agarwal, the India head of Amazon, said in an interview on Friday that groceries and goods such as creams, soaps and cleaning products, were already the largest product category on Amazon in terms of number of units sold in India. “I would not speculate on when we would launch AmazonFresh but, absolutely, if you ask me the next five years of vision - from your avocados to your potatoes, and your meat to your ice cream - we’ll deliver everything to you in two hours,” he said. AmazonFresh, which launched more than a decade ago in the U.S. market, is the company’s flagship fresh grocery delivery service. In India, Amazon currently offers some groceries via a service named Pantry. It has also tied up with local vendors in four cities for … [Read more...] about Amazon to double down on groceries; foray deeper into fresh produce in India
Millions of online sellers to compete with Amazon in Vietnam
VietNamNet Bridge - Amazon will find it not easy to conquer the Vietnamese market as it will have to compete with millions of people selling products via social networks, especially Facebook, analysts say. There are millions of people selling products via social networks Mai Duong, 27, an officer in Hanoi who earns $1,000 a month, is a middle-income earner in Vietnam. However, selling goods via Facebook brings her additional income 2-3 times higher. Some people who sell products via social networks can earn up to $10,000 a month, and the trade has been developing so rapidly that the government is considering taxing the transactions. “There are numerous online sellers. But the market has a lot of potential,” she said. Tran Thanh Hai, a senior official of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), said Amazon and Alibaba will not target market segments that Vietnamese firms target. RELATED NEWS Amazon studying Vietnam market Popular Vietnamese … [Read more...] about Millions of online sellers to compete with Amazon in Vietnam