Our Bureau
New Delhi
Zepto’s Rural Mobilization Program is under serious scrutiny after the reports have come out that the agencies that are managing these hiring programs are scamming their workers. It was reported that the earnings are being unfairly cut by the agencies which have recruited them on behalf of Zepto. There are also complaints regarding the abysmal living conditions they are living in.
Many labourers from the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha have been lured by the recruiting drives from Zepto and have come to work for them in the metro cities. It was reported by The Rajdhani App Workers Union, affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, that recruiting agencies like Kilton Geo Engineering are actively getting people from these states to work for them.
It was informed that this company has recruited labourers under Zepto’s Rural Mobilization Program and has promised them Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per month as salary along with free food and a place to live. But the reality of the situation is that these people get only Rs 3000-3500 per week and are given dismal living conditions to live in. And the major shocking part is that these recruitment companies take their cut from the workers’ salary which ranges around Rs 800-1000.
Sunand, the President of the Rajdhani App Workers said, “In order to get workers interested, the recruitment agencies collaborate with YouTube channels, which post about job availability. The agency recruiters make tall promises in the video of high-income potential, only for labourers to move away from their home and suffer in bad conditions and bad pay in Delhi.”
Zepto has also come out and said that they have heard about the allegations and are taking it seriously. They have also assured that they will be looking into the matter and have stated that they have a strict zero-tolerance against these malpractices.
Zepto gave a statement saying, “We are currently investigating the specific complaints from Delhi, particularly concerning the vendor Kilton Geo Engineering. We have a strict zero-tolerance policy for malpractice and have launched a full audit. At the same time, we’re conducting checks across all RMP locations to ensure every vendor meets our standards.”
