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🗞️ Driving the news: The UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, has publicly criticized major US corporations such as Amazon, Walmart, and DoorDash for paying wages so low that workers are forced to rely on government assistance programs like food stamps and Medicaid to get by
• A 2020 report found Amazon and Walmart among the top employers with workers needing such assistance

🔭 The context: De Schutter's concerns encompass a range of issues affecting workers across the US, including the federal minimum wage, wage theft, inflexible work schedules, the treatment of undocumented workers, union rights violations, and the impact of automation on jobs

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The practices of these corporations not only affect the workers but also reflect broader societal and economic inequalities
• The exploitation of labor can contribute to systemic poverty and hinder progress towards more equitable and sustainable economic models

⏭️ What's next: The corporations in question have been asked to respond to these allegations, with Amazon being the only one to reply within the allotted 60 days, albeit without addressing all concerns
• DoorDash has disputed the allegations and plans to respond, while Walmart has yet to make a statement

💬 One quote: "What these companies do for the most part is not illegal. What they do is use the loopholes in the system," (Olivier De Schutter, UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights)

📈 One stat: The US Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies individuals making $14,850 or less annually as working poor, which includes 6.3 million people or 4.1% of US workers

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