McDonald’s and Amazon’s ties to alleged labor trafficking: five key takeaways

Foreign workers at the Middle East locations of US and UK brands allege low pay, harsh conditions and a legal limbo with few protections

• Revealed: Amazon linked to trafficking of workers in Saudi Arabia
• McDonald's and Chuck E Cheese tied to alleged foreign worker exploitation
• Corporations are paying for worker abuse audits that are designed to fail', say insiders

Today the Guardian has published an investigation into labor conditions at the Persian Gulf locations of major US and UK brands, including Amazon, McDonald's and the InterContinental Hotels Group.

Almost 100 current and former migrant laborers spoke to reporters, and many claimed they were misled into taking poorly paid jobs, subject to extortionate and arbitrary fees, or had their passports confiscated. These practices are broadly considered to be indicators of labor trafficking.