Maharashtra's Labour Ministry Issues Notice To Amazon Over Layoffs

Labour Ministry of Maharashtra has issued notice to the e-commerce giant Amazon over concerns of ongoing layoffs that might impact nearly 1,000 employees in India. The Pune office of the Ministry has issued the notice. 

Amazon India envoys have been summoned to present before CS Shinde, assistant labour commissioner on 17 January at 3 PM, the notice read. 

As per reports, the National Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) reached out to state and Central governments after the firm's Voluntary Separation Programme (VSP) and layoffs. 

Harpreet Singh Saluja, NITES general secretary told the media that an employee who has worked continuously for at least a year cannot be retrenched unless he/she has been served a notice period of three months and prior permission from the respective government. 

He added that we will continue to fight for the rights of the laid-off workers who were unethically forced to opt for a Voluntary Separation Policy. 

However, in a meeting with the Union Labour Ministry, the firm dismissed the charges of firing its employees, stating that the workers who left were doing so under the VSP.

The e-commerce giant is restructuring its organisation at Amazon India and has already shut down its edtech vertical and Amazon Academy. The employees are being asked to either join other verticals or get separated with a severance package as per the separation policy.

As per the VS policy, the package includes a lump sum severance income equal to the base pay of 22 weeks, a one-week base salary for every six months of service (up to a maximum benefit of 20 weeks paid severance) along with medical insurance coverage for six months and a notice period or pay in lieu.