Agreement on the workforce reduction plan at Amazon: layoffs in Barcelona reduced to 791

Amazon and the unions have closed an agreement for the workforce adjustment plan (ERE) With 791 layoffs at its Barcelona corporate offices, 19% fewer than initially announced at the start of this process. According to a statement released Wednesday by the CCOO union, the main reason for the layoffs is the automation of processes due to the implementation of artificial intelligence, but also the relocation of operations to other countries "with more lenient labor regulations." Approximately 2,800 people work at Amazon's Barcelona offices, so the layoffs will affect 28% of the workforce. As agreed, Amazon employees who lose their jobs will receive severance pay of 38 days per year of service, capped at 24 months' salary, with a minimum severance payment of €7,000. They will also be entitled to paid leave until February 28th. The unions have also agreed to a payment of €1,500 for those whose visas are tied to their employment contracts, and that their health insurance will be covered until May 31st. This restructuring plan is part of a nationwide reduction of approximately 900 Amazon employees, 80% of whom are based in Barcelona and the remainder in the Madrid offices. Initially, the multinational planned to lay off 1,200 people in Spain. An agreement on the workforce reduction plan for the Madrid offices, which could affect an additional 125 people, is expected to be finalized this afternoon.

The staff affected by this reduction do not work in logistics centers, but rather as call center agents and IT personnel in Amazon's BCN10 and BCN15 buildings in the Poblenou neighborhood. The workers of call center They mainly serve suppliers, while the other laid-off employees perform tasks related to IT, translation, taxation, identity checks, and data management.