American e-commerce giant Amazon on Tuesday announced a restructuring in the UK, including the closure of three distribution centers employing 1,200 people and the opening of two more employing 2,500 people.
• Also read: Amazon confirms 18,000 job losses
Amazon has “opened a consultation on a proposal to close three fulfillment centers in 2023” and “also plans to open two new centers, which will create 2,500 new jobs over the next three years,” the company said in an announcement AFP sent statement.
In addition, around 1,200 employees are affected by the planned closures of the three locations in Hemel Hempstead near London, Doncaster in central England and Gourock (Scotland).
But all “are offered the opportunity to be transferred to another location,” said the company, which currently has 30 warehouses in the country.
The two new locations will open near Birmingham in the west of England and Durham in the north.
“We are constantly evaluating our network to ensure it meets our business needs and to improve the experience of our employees and customers,” and as part of this, “the company may close older locations, improve existing facilities, or open new locations,” Amazon said .
This restructuring has nothing to do with Amazon’s announcements that it will cut 18,000 jobs worldwide, a company spokesman told AFP.
The group confirmed these job cuts, which also affect Europe, on Thursday, a new important sign of the difficulties in the technology sector in the United States.
Amazon, which had been recruiting furiously during the pandemic to meet skyrocketing demand, notably in the third quarter of 2022 saw its net income fall 9% over the year.