- Amazon has announced that it is creating 50,000 seasonal jobs across its distribution and delivery networks in India to meet surging demands.
Amazon has announced that it is creating 50,000 seasonal jobs across its distribution and delivery networks in India to meet the increasing demand for online shopping, soon after e-commerce companies were permitted to ship all goods across the world, except in containment zones.
The company said the new associates would work alongside their current supply chain employees to pick, pack, ship, and distribute orders to customers across positions. The newly developed positions would provide flexible part-time work options for workers through its recently introduced Amazon Flex program.
“We are building job opportunities through our fulfillment and distribution network for about 50,000 seasonal associates. It will also keep as many employees employed through this pandemic as possible while providing them with a safe work environment, “said Akhil Saxena, Amazon’s vice president of Customer Fulfilment Operations for APAC, MENA & LATAM.
We're opening close to 50,000 seasonal roles across our operations network to meet the surge in demand and to provide critical service in this difficult time. We're committed to creating as many job opportunities while providing a safe working environment.https://t.co/eb3rWakQUZ
— Amit Agarwal (@AmitAgarwal) May 22, 2020
Like other e-commerce players in India, Amazon has faced a shortage of on-the-ground employees due to a massive displacement of jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as security issues. While the company has recovered its fulfillment and distribution capabilities over the past two months, it has worked at suboptimal levels.
Nonetheless, the online shopping giant did not say how much competition has sprung up, or what workforce shortages it still faces. Amazon Senior Vice President and Country Manager Amit Agarwal tweeted that the increased workforce would help Amazon “meet the demand surge and provide essential service in this challenging time.”
Amazon said it would follow the same standards of well-being for on-site staff that is carried out at the height of the pandemic, which includes hazard compensation, increased sick leave, apart from steps such as compulsory mask wear, temperature tests and routine warehouse and distribution hubs sanitation.
Amazon had said in its latest earnings call that it would invest a whopping $4bn as part of its global response to Covid-19, damaging its chances of making a profit in Q2. The company said it would spend $350 million hiring additional workers and raising their pay to make up for their services.
The organization also employed 175,000 new employees in the US, where Amazon has seen a significant increase in shopping due to the pandemic. In India, the company has nearly doubled the pay of delivery and warehouse workers, in line with what has been offered over the past two months by most industries.
Amazon recently started it’s food delivery in selective areas of Bengaluru and is all set to expand.
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