New Delhi: Ride-hailing company Uber India said on Tuesday it is laying off around 600 full-time employees as the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown paralyse operations across the country.

The impact of COVID-19 and the unpredictable nature of the recovery has left Uber India SA with no choice but to reduce the size of its workforce, said Pradeep Parameswaran, President of Uber India and South Asia.

“Around 600 full-time positions across driver and rider support, as well as other functions, are being impacted. These reductions are part of previously announced global job cuts this month,” he said in a statement.

Parameswaran said each departing employee will receive a minimum 10 weeks payout, medical insurance coverage for the next six months, outplacement support, be allowed to retain their laptops and given the option to join the Uber talent directory.

“Today is an incredibly sad day for colleagues leaving the Uber family and all of us at the company. We made the decision now so we can look to the future with confidence. I want to apologise to departing colleagues, and extend my heartfelt thanks to them for their contributions to Uber and the riders and driver partners we serve in India.”

Last week, the US-based Uber Technologies — the parent company of Uber India — announced a 23 per cent cut in its workforce in a bid to become profitable despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, Uber India’s rival Ola had laid off 1,400 employees to navigate the strict coronavirus lockdown, which it said led to a 95 per cent decline in its revenue.

Uber has been pushing hard to turn profitable in India, one of its key markets. It has divested itself of some non-core businesses to concentrate on transportation. In January, it sold its food delivery business Uber Eats to Zomato to cut its losses in exchange for a 9.9 per stake in the latter. (ANI)