The Silicon Review ^Asia

A number of Walmart India executives who were laid off recently wrote a letter to the retailer’s headquarters in Bentonville, US stating that the layoffs were unfair and unrelated to employee performance.

“We have written to them individually as well as a group because the company went ahead with the firing process even after an assurance in December that there will not be any layoffs. Some had even threatened to be whistleblowers in recent real estate deals where due process was not followed,” said three former executives who were part of the communication.

“The US retailer has responded to our mail and a team from US compliance and ethics department could visit India to do a thorough investigation.”

Walmart said that it has built a strong compliance and ethics programme. “We take all allegations seriously and will review these accordingly. We are committed to growing in India, doing so in compliance with all applicable laws and in a way that benefits our associates, local businesses and the communities where we operate,” a Walmart spokesperson said.

The layoffs came as a part of a larger strategy to shut the largest warehouse in Mumbai and stop opening any new stores in India.

Walmart started operations in India in 2007 following a partnership with Bharti Group in the wholesale business.