Coronavirus: Amazon Steps Up Efforts As Demand Surges In a statement, CEO Jeff Bezos said the company was hiring for 100,000 new roles as well as raising wages of hourly workers who are working at this crucial time to help fulfill orders and deliver to customers.

By Debroop Roy

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock

At a time when the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is forcing businesses to stay shut and several others to cut down on staff, Amazon chief Jeff Bezos has asked laid-off employees to come join the e-commerce giant.

In a statement, Bezos said the company was hiring for 100,000 new roles as well as raising wages of hourly workers who are working at this crucial time to help fulfill orders and deliver to customers.

"This isn't business as usual, and it's a time of great stress and uncertainty. It's also a moment in time when the work we're doing is its most critical," Bezos said, adding that he predicted things were going to get much worse before they get better, referring to the economic effects of the crisis.

This comes at a time when e-commerce has reportedly boomed as more and more people are forced to stay home, essentially requiring to order everything online.

In India, grocery delivery companies such as BigBasket and Grofers have seen an unprecedented surge in demand, and have struggled to keep up amid what has also been a lot of panic buying.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked for observation of a self-imposed curfew on Sunday and lockdowns have been imposed across at least 82 districts across the country. Over 341,000 cases have been reported so far globally with more than 14,700 deaths. The number of people who have tested positive in India crossed 400 on Monday.

Essential Supplies

According to multiple news reports, individuals have tried to take advantage of the demand increase, hoarding and selling essentials such as masks and sanitizers at exorbitant prices.

In his statement, Bezos said the company has changed its logistics, transportation, supply chain, purchasing and third party seller processes to prioritize stocking and delivering essential items such as household staples, sanitizers, baby supplies and medical supplies. "We are providing a vital service to people everywhere, especially to those, like the elderly, who are most vulnerable," he said.

Health and Safety

Bezos acknowledged that much of the work that the company does cannot be done at home and that a number of preventive health measures, for both employees and contractors across the world, have been implemented. These include increasing the frequency and intensity of cleaning, adjusting practices in fulfillment centers to ensure recommended social distancing guidelines.

A message to all Amazon employees.

A post shared by Jeff Bezos (@jeffbezos) on

"We have placed purchase orders for millions of face masks we want to give to our employees and contractors who cannot work from home but very few of those orders have been filled. Masks remain in short supply globally and are at this point being directed by governments to the highest-need facilities like hospitals and clinics," he said.

He said that as soon as the company has its turn, the first priority would be to get them to those on the front lines, working to get essential products to people.

Debroop Roy

Former Correspondent

Covering the start-up ecosystem in and around Bangalore. Formerly an energy reporter at Reuters. A film, cricket buff who also writes fiction on weekends.
Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

News and Trends

Atlys Acquires Artionis UK to Enhance European Visa Services

With this move, Atlys aims to simplify visa paperwork and provide faster services, with plans to expand into Germany and France soon.

News and Trends

Healthfab Secures USD 1 Mn Funding to Advance Sustainable Menstrual Care

The brand plans to use the fresh capital to expand its reach across metro and Tier II cities while strengthening its R&D efforts.

News and Trends

Google Launches its Largest Office in India to Fuel AI Innovations

The new campus in Bengaluru marks a significant milestone in Google's journey, marking the technological paradigm shift underway with AI

News and Trends

IN-SPACe Launches Technology Adoption Fund to Boost Space Industry

This initiative aims to transition early-stage innovations from concept to commercial viability, empowering Non-Government Entities (NGEs), including startups and MSMEs, to enhance India's self-reliance in space technology.

News and Trends

India's Foreign Direct Investment Rebounds, But Net Inflows Remain a Concern

The services sector remained the top recipient, accounting for 19.1 per cent of total equity inflows in the first half of FY25.