Amazon, which has committed to invest $5 billion in India, has once again being warned and threatened over the issue of doormats with Indian flags, even as reports emerged of slippers being sold on their platform having Mahatma Gandhi’s images.
Meanwhile, not to be buckled down by controversy, Amazon India has announced their plans hire around 7,500 temporary staff in India, just before their annual ‘Great India Sale’ begins this month.
MEA,Govt. Officials ‘Warn’ Amazon
After Amazon’s Canada portal removed the listings fo doormats with Indian flags, warnings and threats to Amazon hasn’t stopped. Besides Ministry of External Affairs, it is the turn of Indian diplomats and officials to vent their anger.
Shaktikanta Das, who is Secretary Economic Affairs, Government of India, tweeted several warnings to Amazon over hurting Indian sentiments.
He asked Amazon to behave, as he tweeted:
He also suggested Amazon to focus on ‘economic reforms’, ‘ease of doing business’ and ‘open trade’, as he said that we Indians get ‘touchy’ when our ‘icons’ are involved.
After this tweets got massive number of retweets and mentions, he had to clarify that his Tweets are on behalf of an Indian citizen, and not official as Secretary, Economic Affairs.
In a way clarifying his personal position on this matter, he Tweeted:
This comes after Ministry of External Affairs asked Indian ambassador in USA to inform Amazon about respecting Indian values and traditions.
A spokesperson from MEA said on Saturday: “As a follow up to the matter regarding the sale of doormats with the Indian flag on Amazon, our ambassador in Washington has been instructed to convey to Amazon that while providing a platform for third party vendors, they should respect Indian sensitivities and sentiments..”
Amazon India To Hire 7500 Temp Workers
At the same time when they are receiving bashing left and right over third party listings on a foreign portal, Amazon India has recommitted their pledge to increase their Indian presence.
Just before their annual ‘Great Indian Sale’ begins from January 20, 2017, Amazon India has stated that they will hire 7500 temporary workers in India.
As per Amazon India officials, these positions would be to help their fulfillment centres, besides making their deliveries stronger.
Amazon India Vice President, India Customer Fulfilment, Akhil Saxena said, “We have opened more than 7,500 seasonal roles for our upcoming Great Indian Sale. These roles will be available at 27 Fulfilment Centres (FCs), over 100 delivery stations and close to 15 sort centres across the country,”
He informed that recruitment for these temporary profiles is currently underway, and they are confident that their annual mega-sale would be conducted smoothly this year.
We will keep you updated as more details come in.