Muslims working for Amazon in Minneapolis say they fear being fired from the distribution center after taking breaks to pray.

All workers are required to meet strict packing quotas of 240 boxes an hour but the performance of practicing Muslims is affected because they are required to pray five times a day.

Amazon has refuted the claims saying the workers were given a paid prayer break of less than 20 minutes but would be allowed to take unpaid prayer breaks for longer.

Demonstrators shout slogans and hold placards during a protest at the Amazon fulfillment center in Shakopee, Minnesota

A group of Amazon workers in Minnesota who are Somali refugees in the Midwestern US state demand better working conditions during a protest outside one of the retailer's warehouses

Dozens braved frigid temperatures to demonstrate outside of the Amazon warehouse in the Minneapolis suburb of Shakopee - home to a sizable Somali immigrant population

Amazon has the warehouse associates working on a strict hourly packing quota meaning many of them are not able to find the time to take a break in order to pray

The warehouse's current packing rate is 240 boxes an hour but can rise to 400 at peak times

Associates are penalized if they fall behind the 240-an-hour rate. They can be written-up by a manager if they are too slow, which can lead to them being terminated

In a statement, the company say that productivity expectations would be adjusted if employees wanted to take the unpaid breaks.

'We work hard every day to ensure all of our employees are treated fairly and with dignity and respect'.

On Friday a group of Amazon workers, mainly Somali refugees living in Minnesota, protested outside the Shakopee center warehouse to demand better working conditions.

Waving placards they said employees are having their 'bodies wear out because of the stress from increased productivity demands'.

Amazon employees, as well as the local Minnesota community and politicians rallied outside of the warehouse in protest of Amazon's work conditions

Representative-elect Ilhan Omar speaks during a rally at the Amazon fulfillment center in Shakopee, Minnesota

Most of the 3,000 workers at the Minneapolis-area warehouse are from the East African immigrant community

About 100 workers were counted to be protesting in the freezing cold conditions on Friday

Workers want to be treated humanely and for Amazon to display racial and cultural sensitivity

Workers at the Shakopee facility say they feel daily discrimination because of their race, ethnicity, and religion

Minneapolis is a haven for East African immigrants who flock to the area because of the ample job opportunities, and because Minnesota has a robust infrastructure to accommodate them

Khadra Ibhrahin, 28, told Vox she could not easily take prayer breaks because she is required to pack 240 boxes an hour. That number can jump to 400 depending on the demand.

Staff are apparently penalized if they fall behind the packing rate. She said that taking breaks slows down the required rate which puts them at risk of getting fired.

'So most of the time we choose prayer over bathroom, and have learned to balance our bodily needs.

'Every time I walk through those doors, I am filled with this dread that tonight is going to be the night that I get fired.'

The organizers of the protest, union-backed organisation Awood Center, which campaigns for East African workers in the state, said on Facebook: 'What a powerful show of unity and power!

The East African immigrants in Minneapolis are both refugees and non-refugees, and they come from countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya

Amazon warehouse workers get two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute break each shift

East African immigrant workers have been trying to raise issues with Amazon for some time

Last month the workers had made history by getting Amazon executives to sit down with them and listen to their complaints

Last year Muslim Amazon workers had no place to pray in the warehouse, and they complained about not being able to keep up with the job during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan

'As we chanted tonight: 'The people, united, will never be defeated!'

Amazon says that 'prayer breaks less than 20 minutes are paid, and productivity expectations are not adjusted for such breaks.

'Workers are welcome to request an unpaid prayer break for over 20 minutes for which productivity expectations would be adjusted.'

A company spokesperson added: 'We work hard every day to ensure all of our employees are treated fairly and with dignity and respect, including here in Minnesota where we have an open and direct dialogue with employees.

'Amazon offers a great employment opportunity with excellent pay – ranging here from $16.25-$20.80 an hour, and comprehensive benefits including health care, up to 20 weeks parental leave, paid education, promotional opportunities, and more.

'We encourage anyone to compare our pay, benefits, and workplace to other retailers and major employers in the Shakopee community and across the country.

'We invite anyone to see for themselves and take a tour through our fulfillment centre tour programme.'

Amazon workers have been fired for not meeting their rate in the past

Amazon say that 'prayer breaks less than 20 minutes are paid, and productivity expectations are not adjusted for such breaks'

Amazon also say that workers are welcome to request an unpaid prayer break for over 20 minutes for which productivity expectations would be adjusted

Several Amazon employees have spoken up over the past few months about what life is like inside the warehouses that ship nearly half of all e-commerce purchases in the US