Amazon’s warehouses in France will remain closed through Wednesday after a court last week temporarily prohibited the company from shipping nonessential goods because of the risk to workers from the new coronavirus.
The e-commerce giant, which is contesting the court’s decision, said Sunday that its appeal would be heard Tuesday.
Amazon said last week that the ruling left too much ambiguity over what constitutes an essential good for the company to keep its warehouses open. The company temporarily closed its six French distribution centers and ordered its employees home starting Wednesday last week. On Sunday, the company said the shutdown would extend through Wednesday this week.
Amazon directly employs more than 10,000 staff in France, according to trade union SUD, which brought the case before a court in Nanterre, near Paris. The court on April 14 gave Amazon 24 hours to limit its activity to health, hygiene and food products. Under the ruling, Amazon would have to pay €1 million ($1.1 million) for each day of noncompliance.
