Workers at Amazon’s main Scottish warehouse have resorted to living in tents nearby so they can make it into work.
At least three tents have been put up as makeshift homes, just off the M90, by workers at Amazon’s Dunfermline site.
The move has prompted questions over what lengths workers are being forced to go to hold down a job in the run-up to Christmas.
Amazon employs around 1,500 staff on a permanent basis at its fulfilment centre in Dunfermline, Fife, but has created 4,000 seasonal jobs to help cover the busy festive period.
One worker, who did not wish to be named, was reluctant to speak but said he had opted to stay in a tent as it was easier and cheaper than commuting from his home in Perth, although his camping equipment had disappeared by Friday afternoon.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, said: “Amazon should be ashamed that they pay their workers so little that they have to camp out in the dead of winter to make ends meet.
“Amazon need to take a long, hard look at themselves and change their ways. They pay a small amount of tax and received millions of the pounds from the SNP Government so the least they should do is pay the proper living wage.
“The fares the company charge for transport swallow up a lot of the weekly wage which is forcing people to seek ever more desperate ways of making work pay.”
A spokesman for Amazon said: “Amazon provides a safe and positive workplace. The safety and wellbeing of our permanent and temporary associates is our number one priority.
“We are also proud to have been able to create several thousand new permanent roles in our UK fulfilment centres over the last five years.
“We pay competitive wages — all permanent and temporary Amazon associates start on £7.35 an hour or above regardless of age and £11 an hour and above for overtime.”
