Amazon Mena has hired more than 1,500 employees, increasing its workforce by 30 per cent since March, to meet the surge in e-commerce demand due to the coronavirus outbreak, vice president Ronaldo Mouchawar said.
"We see ourselves playing a really essential role here, because we're working with all the authorities to make sure that we're able to deliver as many essentials and important goods to customers across the region that we operate in," Mr Mouchawar told The National.
UAE-based Souq.com, founded by Mr Mouchawar, was acquired by Amazon for $580 million (Dh2.1 billion) in 2017 and rebranded as Amazon.ae a year ago.
Amazon Mena, including Amazon Web Services, now has over 6,500 employees with offices in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Mr Mouchawar said Amazon Mena has been working to balance "adhering to the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health and our own safety standards, but as well as coping with the demand and growth that we see from the consumer's perspective".
Globally, Amazon has found itself in a difficult position as lockdowns and social distancing measures to control the spread of the virus have boosted business.
Sales increased to $75.5bn in the first quarter, up 26 per cent from a year earlier. The nature of the job has however put packaging and delivery workers at increased risk.
The online retailer has filled 175,000 additional jobs since mid-March to help meet demand and take the place of workers sheltering at home.
Amazon has said all employees diagnosed with Covid-19 or placed into quarantine will receive up to two weeks' pay, and increased safety and sanitisation procedures.
However, the company came under growing criticism from workers, trade unions and politicians last month as Covid-19 cases were reported among staff at more than 50 of its US warehouses.
In an earnings call on April 30, Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said the company plans to spend its entire profit for the second quarter, expected to be "some $4 billion or more", on Covid-related expenses "getting products to customers and keeping employees safe".
Amazon Mena’s health and safety measures for employees include increased frequency and intensity of cleaning at all fulfilment centres and delivery station sites in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Layouts of the centres have been rearranged so associates can maintain a two-metre distance from co-workers.
"The first changes that we've had to implement were around the safety of our teams: adhering to social distancing, making sure that the sanitisation processes in our warehouses are done well ... to make sure that both our fulfilment centre and delivery network associates are safe," Mr Mouchawar said.
Amazon customers have the option to have deliveries left on the doorstep and there is no longer a requirement for signatures. Although customers can still pay with cash, Amazon has urged customers to use ePay methods for contactless deliveries.
With thousands of employees and delivery partners in the region, Mr Mouchawar said there have been a "few cases" of Covid-19, but added "the quarantine process is managed well".
"We are taking proactive safety measures to protect employees and associates who have been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed or becomes ill," he said.
As demand has "shifted from transport to delivery", Mr Mouchawar said Amazon has tapped into Careem and Uber drivers who have been laid off due to staffing cuts. "If we're able to use them, we are using them," he said, adding that the company is "hiring continuously".
The surge in e-commerce demand that Amazon Mena has seen since mid-March has been two-fold, Mr Mouchawar said: Covid-related items, such as hand sanitiser, cleaning materials, masks and gloves; and items related to stay-at-home and social distancing practices, such as groceries, laptops and sports equipment.
"As we change our habits to do a lot more things at home, we've seen the categories that are related to these activities definitely grow," he said.
The site also saw an uptick in the use of Prime, its paid membership service that offers free expedited shipping and Amazon Video content.
The number of third-party sellers, which are mainly small businesses, increased as well.
"This was one of the key avenues for them to reach their own customers as many were able to do delivery, but not serve customers in their own premises or stores," Mr Mouchawar said.
Before the pandemic online shopping was already increasing in the region and set to grow at around 40 per cent a year over the next five years, according to a McKinsey November report. It remains to be seen whether the current environment will spur growth further.
"We'll see post-Covid how things pan out, but we definitely see a shift in many customers – not only our existing customers in terms of their frequency, but also many new customers to e-commerce have come on board," Mr Mouchawar said.
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
Oscars in the UAE
The 90th Academy Awards will be aired in the UAE from 3.30am on Monday, March 5 on OSN, with the ceremony starting at 5am
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8
Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Price: from Dh850,000
On sale: now
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Day 3, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Just three balls remained in an exhausting day for Sri Lanka’s bowlers when they were afforded some belated cheer. Nuwan Pradeep, unrewarded in 15 overs to that point, let slip a seemingly innocuous delivery down the legside. Babar Azam feathered it behind, and Niroshan Dickwella dived to make a fine catch.
Stat of the day - 2.56 Shan Masood and Sami Aslam are the 16th opening partnership Pakistan have had in Tests in the past five years. That turnover at the top of the order – a new pair every 2.56 Test matches on average – is by far the fastest rate among the leading Test sides. Masood and Aslam put on 114 in their first alliance in Abu Dhabi.
The verdict Even by the normal standards of Test cricket in the UAE, this has been slow going. Pakistan’s run-rate of 2.38 per over is the lowest they have managed in a Test match in this country. With just 14 wickets having fallen in three days so far, it is difficult to see 26 dropping to bring about a result over the next two.
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees
Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme
Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks
Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Test squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan(wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah
Twenty20 squad: Babar Azam (captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
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if you go
Getting there
Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.
Staying there
On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.
More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr
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