A UNION boss today warned Christmas jobs at Amazon may not be worth having.

Stephen Boyd, assistant organiser of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, said he was concerned those taking up temporary posts at the online retailer – including its factory in Gourock – would be better off unemployed and on benefits.

Mr Boyd is the latest to sound warnings about Amazon, which MPs last month accused of "immorally minimising its tax obligations".

In 2010 and 2011 the Evening Times reported the American-owned firm had been laying off short-term workers before the end of their shifts.

Union sources say it is also happening this year.

Mr Boyd is concerned for those who leave benefits to take up such precarious positions.

He said: "Working with Amazon over Christmas is highly unlikely to lead to the permanent, secure employment that most people desire.

"For many of Amazon's Christmas workers, this temporary post will just be the next point in the cycle between bad jobs and unemployment.

"There is growing evidence showing low wage, insecure work has a similar detrimental impact on skills and health as periods of unemployment."

There are no recognised unions at Amazon's Scottish distribution centres, which were opened with financial help from successive Labour/Liberal and SNP administrations.

Jim McCourt, of the Inverclyde Advice & Employment Rights Centre, supports workers who are unhappy at Amazon in Gourock. In the past he has highlighted workers behind sent home halfway through shifts early in the morning or in the middle of the night.

Mr McCourt said: "Shifts have been cut short again this year. This is unacceptable. Amazon can afford to pay workers for a whole shift."

According to evidence to the Public Accounts Committee of the Westminster Parliament, Amazon's UK division paid just £2.3m corporation tax on £7.1bn sales over the last three years.

Amazon employs temporary Christmas workers through employment agencies.

Such posts are advertised in job centres, says the Employment Rights Centre, as for 40-48 hours a week. But employment agency contracts do not guarantee hours.

Amazon has previously argued it is difficult to predict demand for work and needs a flexible agency workforce to handle its Christmas rush.

An Amazon spokeswoman said: "On a small number of occasions in previous years, some temporary associates were released early from their shift. That has not happened this Christmas.

"We are delighted to have been able to take on hundreds of temporary workers for the festive period in Gourock.

"Over the past three years, thousands of temporary employees across the UK have gone on to take up permanent roles at Amazon."