AMAZON warehouses should be closed for deep cleaning and staff must receive sick pay, a new fundraising campaign is demanding. 

SumofUs is asking members of the public to donate £1 or more to pay for a mobile billboard to circle the US mansion of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos in order to take workers’ voices directly to his door.

Mr Bezos, the world’s richest man, is forcing his employees to continue working in warehouses where multiple cases of Covid-19 have been discovered. 

The billionaire has told workers that if they stay at home, they risk their paycheck. SumofUs said low-paid workers face an impossible choice. 

In a statement, the campaign group said: “Amazon’s boss is making this pandemic worse — Bezos is a super-spreader.

“Right now Bezos can enjoy a luxury quarantine in his DC mansion. If you chip in today we’ll surround his home with scathing mobile billboards, until he lets up. 

“He won’t be able to look out the window without seeing your message.”

The group said that they appreciate that it “isn’t an easy time financially” for many people, but if they are able to donate, their campaign is a “direct, practical way to overturn the dangerous policies of one of the biggest corporations in the world.”

Donations can be made on the SumofUs website.

Amazon has said that warehouse staff and delivery drivers will get a £2-an-hour pay rise in recognition of their work during the coronavirus lockdown. Meanwhile, Mr Bezos has become $6.4 billion (£5.19bn) richer through increased online sales.

Amazon UK boss Doug Gurr wrote to customers today claiming that the retail giant is operating social distancing in its warehouses according to government standards.