Amazon India launches COVID-19 Relief Scheme to strengthen financial support for frontline teams and eligible employees

The scheme offers frontline teams and eligible employees with added layers of financial protection through a COVID-19 Allowance and Hospital Reimbursement

Mumbai, 21 May, 2021 (GNI): As the country continues to navigate through the pandemic, in addition to various other initiatives launched to support its employees and frontline teams, Amazon India has now launched a COVID-19 Relief Scheme (CRS). Through this initiative, Amazon India will provide additional financial assistance to frontline teams of associates hired through staffing agencies and other eligible employees with a COVID-19 Allowance and additional Hospital Reimbursement. The COVID-19 allowance is a one-time grant per employee of INR 30,600 for in-house COVID care, medical equipment, or medication related expenses.  If employees exceed their maximum insurance cover due to COVID-19 related hospitalization expenses, Amazon India will also additionally reimburse insurance-approved hospital expenses up to INR 1,90,000.

In addition to the COVID-19 Relief Scheme, Amazon India is ensuring front line teams and employees have all the support they need at this challenging time. All frontline associates working across sites through staffing agencies are eligible for a one month salary advance to cover COVID-19 related healthcare and medical treatment as well as paid leave should they be quarantined. Amazon India also provides medical insurance and ESIC benefits to all associates hired through staffing agencies. Frontline associates residing in government declared containment zones are also provided with sustenance pay of up to INR 7500 if they are unable to report to work due to local restrictions. Further, these teams also have access to tele consultation and online medical help solutions, as a paid service and a free counselling service through the Employee Assistance program (EAP). The COVID-19 warrior teams are also available to extend immediate assistance for COVID-19 related emergencies to all frontline teams at Amazon. There is also a voluntary initiative that will connect employees and associates to blood plasma donors among Amazon employees who have fully recovered from COVID-19.  

Medical insurance support is also provided to all Delivery Service Partner associates and I Have Space partners. This is in addition to the Amazon Relief Fund (ARF), a $25 million relief fund for eligible delivery associates who are part of the Delivery Service Partner Program, Amazon Flex program and trucking partners in the event of financial hardships due to COVID-19.

Swati Rustagi, HR Director, Amazon India Operations, said, “While our frontline teams help deliver the items customers need at their doorstep, we are committed to creating a financial and medical support system for our network of associates impacted by COVID-19 across the country. With the COVID-19 Relief Scheme, we are looking to provide an added security layer of support and ensure financial, health and insurance protection for our front line teams, eligible employees, and their dependents, stated in the press release.  

Amazon India is also encouraging all its employees and front line teams to get vaccinated at the earliest possible opportunity and making vaccination a ready choice for its teams. The on-site vaccination events have started with those on the frontline and will soon expand to all employees. The company is also providing a special pay of up to INR 1500 to all associates working through staffing agencies for both doses of the vaccine.  The company is additionally enabling vaccination for its associates and employees through various other channels including re-imbursements and facilitating easy access to hospitals

Amazon India also recently announced that it will cover the COVID-19 vaccination cost for more than 10 lakh people including its India employees, sellers, associates as well as its operations partner network of Delivery Service Partner (DSP) associates, including Amazon Flex drivers, I Have Space (IHS) store partners, trucking partners and also their eligible dependents.ends