Workers at Vivo’s phone factory in Greater Noida reportedly turned violent after the company sacked more than 60 workers without any prior notice. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, the incident occurred on Tuesday evening and became violent after one of the guards allegedly slapped a worker. Following this incident, workers gathered and staged a protest against the company’s policies. The report notes that the factory workers inside the factory broke windowpanes and cell phone assembly units.
One of the workers told the publication that Vivo hired many workers during the IPL season, and started laying them off once the season ended. The worker added that the company had sacked over a thousand employees in the last few months and plans to fire 2,000 more.
The Senior Superintendent of Police at Gautam Budh Nagar, Love Kumar said, “the situation is under control. We have asked the workers not to indulge in any kind of violence and have also asked company to mend their policies.”
A spokesperson from Vivo stated, “with continuous growth and strategic review, we look at staffing the right size in various divisions to improve productivity. The layoff is in line with this business decision. We have strictly adhered to the rules and regulations, and the contract, and are taking all the right measures to ensure a peaceful transition keeping their best interests in consideration.”
Vivo was one of the sponsors for the IPL this year. The company even released a limited edition version of its V5 Plus smartphone. The device had a Matte Black finish and sported a Vivo IPL logo at the back. It also came with a new cricket-based theme.