Union Labour Ministry Summons Amazon India Over Latest Layoffs By Company

In a letter to Union Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav, employee union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate claimed that Amazon staffers were removed forcefully from the company

The labour ministry of the central government has summoned Amazon India to appear before the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner in Bengaluru on Wednesday in connection with the alleged forced terminations by the company, reported by news agency IANS. The ministry’s notice issued on Tuesday read, "You (Amazon) are therefore requested to attend this office with all relevant records in the matter either personally or through an authorised representative on the aforesaid date and time without fail."

According to the report, the development comes after a complaint filed by the employee union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) in which it has alleged Amazon of violating labour laws.

In a letter to Union Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav, NITES claimed that Amazon staffers were removed forcefully from the company.

Pressing for inquiry, the union maintained that a Voluntary Separation Programme has been sent to employees giving a deadline of November 30 to complete the process.

NITES claimed that as a result of this the livelihood of many are at stake.

Underlying the Industries Disputes Act, it argued that without permission from the government, an employer cannot be laid off.

NITES President Harpreet Saluja told the media that the union looked forward for justice for the employees. He also added that unethical Voluntary Separation Policy mooted by the Amazon would be scrapped by the government and the action by the authorities has provided a sigh of relief for the employees.

According to news reports, Amazon is all set to lay off up to 10,000 people as of now and the terminations till continue till 2023.

Amazon becomes the latest US tech firm to start with a layoff exercise in its corporate ranks that will affect around 260 workers.

In a notification, the regional authorities in California on Tuesday said it would lay off about 260 workers at various facilities that employ data scientists, software engineers and other corporate workers, according to the news agency AP report. These job cuts would impact the employees starting next year from January 17.