Amazon India has reportedly cut around 100–130 jobs across retail, customer service and seller-support teams, just as its annual Great Indian Festival sale kicked off. The latest cuts are part of a wider global restructuring affecting approximately 1,000 employees.
Amazon has carried out another round of layoffs in India, with reports emerging on October 8, 2026, that employees across several business functions had received termination notices. The timing has drawn attention because the cuts came around the launch of Amazon’s major festive shopping event, the Great Indian Festival.
According to reports by The Economic Times and The Times of India, the latest round has affected employees in Amazon’s retail and Stores business, customer service and selling partner services. The reported number of affected employees in India varies: one report puts the figure at at least 100, while another estimates approximately 130.
Which Amazon Teams Are Affected?
The reported job cuts span several functions connected to Amazon’s e-commerce operations, including:
- Retail and Stores: Teams supporting Amazon’s core online shopping business.
- Customer service: Functions that help customers resolve issues and manage their shopping experience.
- Selling Partner Services: Teams that support third-party sellers using Amazon’s marketplace.
Reports indicate that employees in junior- to mid-level roles were among those affected. However, Amazon has not publicly released a complete breakdown of the affected employees by team, location or job level.
Why Is Amazon Laying Off Employees Again?
The latest cuts are part of Amazon’s broader workforce restructuring as the company reassesses its organisational structure and spending priorities.
Amazon has said that it regularly reviews its team structures to ensure they align with its business goals. The latest global round reportedly affected fewer than 1,000 employees, primarily within its Stores division.
The company has also been increasing its investment in artificial intelligence and infrastructure. However, the available reporting does not establish that AI directly caused every job loss in this particular round.
Layoffs During the Great Indian Festival Sale
The timing is notable because Amazon’s Great Indian Festival is one of its biggest annual shopping events in India, attracting customers looking for discounts on smartphones, electronics, fashion, appliances and other products.
Amazon has also announced plans to expand its Indian logistics network and create seasonal employment opportunities to support festive demand. These temporary and operations-related opportunities are different from the corporate roles affected by the reported layoffs.
The contrast highlights an important distinction: a company can expand parts of its operations while reducing jobs in other departments at the same time. Seasonal hiring and corporate restructuring do not necessarily involve the same roles or workforce requirements.
How Many Employees Has Amazon Laid Off in India in 2026?
According to The Times of India, the latest round is Amazon India’s third round of layoffs this year. The report estimates that approximately 400 employees in India have been affected across the three rounds.
Globally, Amazon’s wider restructuring has involved much larger job cuts. Reuters reported that the latest round was part of a broader reduction of around 30,000 corporate roles that began in 2025 and continued into 2026.
These figures refer to different scopes and time periods: the estimated 100–130 employees relate to the latest reported India round, while the larger numbers cover broader restructuring.
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