Amazon staff must be provided with assurances from the government that they will be adequately supported if faced with redundancy, according to Social Democrats enterprise spokesperson Sinéad Gibney.
Deputy Gibney said:
“Reports that Amazon is to cut 16,000 jobs are extremely concerning for the 6,500 staff employed by the multinational company in Ireland.
“Today, I have written to the Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke and asked him what steps his Department and the Industrial Development Agency will take to ensure those who may be faced with redundancy are provided with adequate supports.
“The Minister must also provide clarity on whether his department has engaged with Amazon to address these reports – I have asked for him to detail his interactions with the company on this matter.
“The government should make it clear that State supports for workers, should they be required, will be made available and put in place immediately.
“When a mammoth multinational announces radical measures such as these, it’s easy for some to forget that behind the numbers are real people – it’s for this reason that clarity must immediately be sought from Amazon on whether its Irish operation will be scaled back.
“It’s well documented that Amazon has a consistent record of poor workers’ rights – it’s essential that the Department does not allow for it to mistreat its Irish employees.
“We have seen the quality of redundancies and treatment degrade as tech layoffs have increased in the last few years – workers and their families must be prioritised in any representation made by the government to Amazon.
“I urge the Minister to clarify this matter in a timely manner.”
January 28th, 2026