No layoffs so far but surging COVID-19 cases in some states cause for concern Bata chairman

    Kolkata, Aug 6 (PTI) Bata India Chairman Ashwani
Windlass on Thursday said it has not laid off any employee so
far, but admitted that there is not much clarity on "where the
footwear major is heading" amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
    As of March, the company had 9,762 employees across
functions and locations, of which 4000-4500 are on third-party
contract, he said.
    "There is no layoff till date. Bata has friendly HR
policies," Windlass told shareholders at the 87th annual
general meeting of the company.
    "I don't think we have complete clarity about where we
are heading. Intermittent lockdowns and the surging pandemic
in some states is of concern for us. At the end of the current
quarter, we will be better placed to analyse and calibrate our
strategies," he said.
    The management has taken a number of measures to
safeguard and reopen stores, while according top priority
to employee and customer safety, company officials said.
    "Actual demand recovery shall be concurrent with the
overall recovery of the economy, which is inching up now.
Complete reinstatement of pre-COVID state of affairs is still
sometime away," the chairman said in his address at the
virtual AGM.
    Bata India has achieved 35-40 per cent of the pre-
COVID business levels, he said.
    "Moreover, the RBI moratorium will help bolster the
huge supply chain for Bata," Windlass told PTI.
    Of the footwear major's 1,500 stores across the
country, around 85 per cent are now open, he said, adding, the
manufacturing units are also operating smoothly, while
adhering to health and safety protocols.
    The top company official, however, admitted that some
of its frontline sales persons had tested positive for COVID-
19, including a fatality at the Batanagar unit.
    On the road ahead, Windlass said with the upcoming
festival season, Bata India expects increase in footfall at
stores.
    "Our omni-channel home delivery covers more than 900
stores pan India. We are continuously ramping up our online
presence. We have also realigned our products to cater to the
open footwear and washable categories," he said. PTI BSM
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)