Amazon has announced that it is adding 100,000 new full-time and part-time workers in the US due to a surge in online shopping amid the coronavirus outbreak.
E-commerce giant Amazon said a surge in online shopping due to the coronavirus has prompted it to hire 100,000 additional workers in the US to keep up with demand. The additional staff will be placed in Amazon's fulfillment centers and delivery network.
In a blog post, Amazon said: "We are seeing a significant increase in demand, which means our labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year."
The firm previously announced that customers could experience more extended delivery times than usual due to the high volume of orders due to the coronavirus outbreak. As of Monday, the number of cases in the country has surpassed 4,000.
Amazon also stated on Saturday that it is out of stock on "some popular brands and items, especially in household staples categories."
The company emphasized: "We believe our role serving customers and the community during this time is a critical one, and we want to make sure people can get the items they need, when they need them."
"We are working around the clock with our selling partners to ensure availability on all of our products, and bring on additional capacity to deliver all of your orders," Amazon assured.
Aside from hiring the additional workers, the firm will also be investing over $350 million to raise pay for hourly employees in warehouse and distribution roles through April. Amazon will pay an additional $2 USD per hour above the base hourly rate of $15 or more, depending on the region, in the US.
It will pay £2 more per hour in the United Kingdom and €2 more per hour in many European countries.
Amazon also pointed out that it is consulting with medical and health experts on recommended safety precautions within its facilities, as well as implementing "social distancing in the workplace" and enhanced cleaning.
