"Amazon shutters main Sydney distribution centre after Covid-19 outbreak", 13 July 2021

One of the nation’s largest online retailers has been forced to shut down its Sydney operations after a coronavirus outbreak at its chief fulfilment centre.

Two workers at the Amazon Australia facility in Moorebank, in the city’s southwest, tested positive to Covid-19 at the weekend, sending most of their fellow staff into isolation as they awaited their own test results.

The 44,000sq m centre, stocked with half a million products and has a pool of more than 100 casual workers, has been temporarily shuttered and is in the process of being deep cleaned. A source told The Australian the infected staff recently worked contrasting shifts at the centre, meaning they came into contact with both day and night teams.

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Casual workers across all of Amazon’s Sydney warehouses were informed of the outbreak on Monday morning, and warned it could result in their rostered hours being cut. Recruitment agency Adecco, which employ all of Amazon’s warehouse workers on casual contracts, informed employees in an email that there “may be shift changes”.

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Director of Operations at Amazon Australia Craig Fuller told The Australian the shopping giant is providing assistance to workers who have been impacted.

“We are supporting two team members as they isolate at home. The safety of our people remains our highest priority and we have taken prompt, proactive measures to to ensure the safety of employees at our site. We are working with NSW Health and will continue to follow their guidance,” Mr Fuller said.

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