Amazon Expands Logistics Footprint: Relocation, Compensation, and New Hubs in Zaragoza and Beyond

The Northern region is no longer a distant mystery for many workers. About 90 people living in a Catalan industrial town found a new path by relocating to Zaragoza, 314 kilometers away, to pursue a livelihood. They had been affected by the closure of 745 Amazon centers. In Martorelles, Barcelona, a relocation and business transfer plan took shape as the company began operating a logistics hub in the new Amazon facility in Zaragoza, a move confirmed by company sources. The facility in Zaragoza became operational on March 20, marking a notable expansion of the electronic commerce giant’s network of warehouses.

In Zaragoza, a major logistics space over 52,000 square meters emerged for the American multinational. About 200 workers joined the operation, with roughly half coming from nearby Catalonia. It is expected to grow to more than 500 staff during the peak season from Black Friday through Christmas, with gradual hiring planned. The company projects that the broader relocation program will create more than 1,000 jobs in the next three years.

The new center’s launch followed events in Martorelles and Zaragoza and had been announced as part of a broader modernization push for Spain’s logistics network. The company described the changes as a natural progression in streamlining operations across the country.

7 250 Euro compensation for the transfer

Workers who relocate to Zaragoza receive a relocation bonus totaling 7,250 euros. Of this, 4,850 euros are paid on a single payroll, while the remaining 2,400 euros are distributed over one year, contingent on continued employment with the company during that period.

To close the wage gap within the Barcelona-Zaragoza logistics framework, union sources indicate the company will pay 2,250 euros for warehouse staff and 3,250 euros for foremen during the first year. Additionally, there will be adjustments ranging from 690 to 790 euros for outstanding CPI arrears and a 250-euro deviation for the holiday allowance.

From the sixth month in Zaragoza, bonuses are not reclaimable; however, if workers decide to leave earlier, they are subject to a monthly repayment of 808.33 euros. Those who remain with the company accrue compensation of 33 days of vacation per year plus an extra annual payment of 375 euros.

Amazon’s Martorelles workforce tended toward a younger profile, and many workers opted to relocate to Aragon. The shift was aided by built-in compensation. An additional 40 employees will transfer to Amazon’s new automated warehouse in El Fràs de l’Empordà (Girona), about 120 kilometers from Martorelles, with operation expected to begin next May according to union sources.

These financial compensation terms were part of an agreement reached in February between workers’ representatives and center management and approved by the staff through a vote.

Valeo precedent

Martorelles workers have faced relocation before. In 2017, Valeo reorganized its activities and moved a portion of its air conditioning and thermal systems work to Zaragoza, prompting the closure of the Martorelles plant and a transfer option for a dozen workers.

Valeo also closed the Martorelles factory in 2017 and moved the operation to Zaragoza, which resulted in the transfer of a dozen workers.

The new Amazon headquarters in Zaragoza is a landmark project, with a 52,000-square-meter facility sitting on land comparable to about 20 football fields. The facility is designed around the cross-docking model for instant distribution, storing and processing goods before routing them to other centers to support Amazon’s European operations.

Construction around the site near the La Peñaza golf course wrapped up last summer, but the opening faced delays due to supply chain issues, notably a shortage of microchips. The company noted the challenges at the time.

La Muela factory and future openings

The La Muela site will join two other Amazon facilities in the region: a last-mile delivery station opened in 2021 and an Amazon Fresh store that began operations in 2022 in Transportation City.

Inside La Muela, a fourth facility of about 36,000 square feet is planned to centralize returns from the southern part of the continent. The building is already constructed, and it is expected to become fully operational within the year, though an official opening date has not yet been announced. In addition to these distribution facilities, Amazon recently activated three data centers run by its technology arm, AWS, located in El Burgo de Ebro, Villanueva de Gállego, and Huesca (Plhus industrial area).