- Atlas Cycles announced on Wednesday the layoff of 1,000 workers & shutdown of its manufacturing unit at Ghaziabad’s Sahibabad.
- Atlas Cycles closed its manufacturing facility in Sonepat, Haryana in February 2018 while operations ceased at its Malanpur plant in Madhya Pradesh in 2014.
One of India’s most famous bicycle brands, Atlas Cycles, announced on Wednesday the layoff and shutdown of its manufacturing unit at Ghaziabad’s Sahibabad leaving nearly 1,000 workers left in the lurch. Also celebrated as World Cycle Day, Wednesday. The business is a public statement that it is under a strong ‘economic crisis’ due to which it can not buy raw materials for bicycle production.
The shutting order came Wednesday morning and a notice announced layoff was pasted at the main gate of Sahibabad’s production site. The staff was surprised to learn when they entered the workplace, and they complained about the decision. Police removed them later citing orders to distance them from society. However, the workers said the production of the company was going well and should be informed earlier if the owner wanted to shut down the manufacturing.
Cycle employee general secretary Mahesh Singh said when they came for work on Wednesday and spotted the notice, they were in for a shock of their lives. “The company has never suggested that it’s going to be shut down. We’ve worked on Monday and Tuesday. How can they suddenly ask us to sit at home? We ‘re going to raise our voice against this decision,” Singh said adding “we ‘re all going to get on the road because our situation wasn’t good because of the lockdown.”
Over the past few years, Atlas faced the financial issue forcing them to shut down two of its Madhya Pradesh and Haryana units. That appears to be their last cell. The owner of the company was not available for comments, however.
Some workers have questioned the decision, claiming the production of the company was on track.
Atlas Cycles closed its manufacturing facility in Sonepat, Haryana in February 2018 while operations ceased at its Malanpur plant in Madhya Pradesh in 2014.
Travel company MakeMyTrip said it is laying off 350 employees as its business has taken a significant hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic leading to a larger travel ban. The company said it was uncertain when traveling would turn into a way of life, as it was during the pre-COVID era.
