Coronavirus lockdown: Uber to lay off 600 employees in India

Each employee will receive a minimum 10 weeks payout, medical insurance coverage for the next six months, says Pradeep Parameswaran, President of Uber India & South Asia

Ridesharing platform Uber India on Tuesday said it is laying off about 600 employees- amounting to about a quarter of its staff in the country, as the business has taken a major hit amid the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns.

The development comes days after Bengaluru-based ride-sharing Ola had announced that it was laying off 1,400 people from its India business. after its revenues were hit by about 95%.

“The impact of COVID-19 and the unpredictable nature of the recovery has left Uber India South Asia with no choice but to reduce the size of its workforce. Around 600 full-time positions across driver and rider support, as well as other functions, are being impacted,” Uber India and South Asia President Pradeep Parameswaran said in a statement.

These reductions are part of previously announced global job cuts this month, he added.

Earlier this month, Uber had slashing about 6,700 full-time roles.

Parameswaran said each impacted employee will receive a minimum 10-week payout, medical insurance coverage for the next six months, out-placement support, and will be allowed to retain their laptops.