US online giant Amazon says it will open two distribution centres in the Czech Republic by the end of 2014, a month after its German employees went on strike over pay.

The centres are a response to increased demand across Europe, Amazon said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that it chose the Czech Republic for its prime location in the heart of Europe and not far from key markets.

The company, earlier this month, said it would open three logistics centres in Poland by 2015, creating 6000 new jobs. The Czech centres will open near the capital Prague and the second city Brno, creating 4000 new jobs plus 6000 extra hires around Christmas.

Amazon already has a centre near Prague’s international airport, along with more than 20 distribution centres in seven European countries.

Several hundred employees of Amazon’s German centres went on strike last month after the company refused to bring pay into line with comparable work in the distribution sector.

Walkouts were also held in May and June. It employs 9,000 people in Germany at eight logistics centres, two customer service centres and at the German headquarters in the southern city of Munich.

AFP