Amazon Layoffs Hit India: 800 Employees Face Job Cuts
Amazon has initiated a significant round of layoffs in India, potentially affecting around 800 employees, as part of a broader global restructuring effort reportedly driven by the adoption of artificial intelligence. The job cuts have been described by affected individuals and their families as ‘heartbreaking’ and ‘shocking’, creating an atmosphere of anxiety among the remaining workforce.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 800 Amazon employees in India are expected to be laid off
- Layoffs affect teams across Retail Business Services, Devices, and Robotics
- Employees received termination notifications via email with immediate access revocation
- Global layoffs could target up to 14,000 workers
Social Media Reveals Emotional Impact
Numerous social media posts have highlighted the human cost of these layoffs. One X user, Prapti, described the cuts as “massive” and “heartbreaking,” noting that her friend’s entire team, including managers, was let go. Testing teams for Q3 and Q4 were reportedly among the first affected.
Another user, Siya, shared that her relative’s son lost his job at Amazon. “He used to boast about his salary and job, acting as if he were extraordinary, but now he has lost both his job and his hope of finding another,” she wrote.
Sudden Termination After Diwali Break
Divya Porwal posted about a friend who was laid off immediately upon returning from Diwali vacation. “He was excited to be back,” she wrote. “As soon as he landed and turned on his phone, there it was – a layoff mail from Amazon.”
Scale and Impact in India
The layoffs in India are expected to affect approximately 800 employees across various departments including Retail Business Services (RBS), Devices, and Robotics or Mechatronics. With Amazon’s total workforce in India standing at around 130,000, these cuts would represent less than 1% of the local workforce.
According to a Deccan Herald report, affected employees received email notifications followed by immediate access revocation. One employee shared a screenshot showing the message: “Your device has been put into reduced functionality mode, limiting your access.”
The report noted that emails sent to Amazon’s India team seeking clarification did not receive any response. The layoffs have created significant uncertainty among remaining employees about their job security.
