Are Japan’s Amazon Drivers at Their Breaking Point?
A series of news reports — and a new movie — have taken Amazon Japan to task for the stress it puts on delivery drivers.
By Jay Andrew Allen
Amazon delivery drivers worldwide complain that the company overworks them. Japan is no exception. Over the past year, local news media has focused increased attention on the plight of drivers asked to deliver over 200 packages a day. Even a new movie, currently sitting at the top of the Japanese box office, is taking the company to task.
The struggle to find delivery workers
Amazon has had a significant presence in Japan since Amazon.co.jp launched in November 2000. The subsidiary reaps an estimated $17.71B in profit every year on $65.01B in business. It has a staggering roster of over 1.5 million employees.
To fuel this growth, Amazon is using not just dedicated delivery drivers but part-time help. A program introduced last year hires local business owners and others to deliver small packages around their neighborhood by bicycle or foot in their spare time.
