Online retail giant Amazon announced Monday that it would be creating 1,000 permanent jobs in its U.K. distribution and customer service centers as mobile commerce flourishes.
Set to go into effect “in the coming months,” the new jobs would be an addition to the 6,000 total workforce across its eight distribution centers located in Doncaster, Dunfermline, Gourock, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Rugeley, and Swansea Bay, according to BBC News.
Amazon’s director of U.K. operations John Tagawa said, “As we see greater demand, we are able to grow our talented team across the UK.”
The company said it has already grown its U.K. workforce by 2,000 people over the past two years, BBC reported.
Amazon also said it made changes to its policies regarding staff, including offering share grants to staff who have worked longer than one year. Permanent staff start on an average 7.39 pounds ($11.87) per hour with the potential to earn 8.90 pounds ($14.30) after two years.
The news comes just after it was announced that Amazon would be the latest firm under investigation by the European Commission for possible underestimation of its taxable profits. According to the Commission, the investigation will examine whether the decision by Luxembourg tax authorities with regard to the corporate income tax to be paid by Amazon in Luxembourg coincide with EU regulations on state aid.
The Commission also said that a 2003 tax agreement between the retailer and Luxembourg will be examined as it said most of Amazon’s European profits are recorded in Luxembourg, but not taxed in the state. The retailer said in response, “Amazon has received no special tax treatment from Luxembourg- we are subject to the same tax laws as other companies operating there.”