Even as concerns around Coronavirus and COVID-19 spread, the Flipkart Group underscores the importance of health and safety in communications to employees at our offices and across our pan-India supply chain, as well as our marketplace sellers and ecosystem partners. Follow this blog for the latest updates on our initiatives to manage the impact of the pandemic.
Delivered: All cryogenic liquid containers and oxygen cylinders for COVID-19 relief
Since Flipkart, PhonePe, and Walmart mobilized their global resources to further expand support for COVID-19 relief efforts in India, we’re happy to share that cryogenic liquid containers and oxygen cylinders donated by Walmart have been delivered to towns and cities across the country. Walmart and our companies are committed to supporting the communities that we operate in around the globe.
To combat the surge in COVID-19 cases, Walmart committed to donate:
- Up to 20 oxygen-generating plants
- 20 cryogenic containers for oxygen storage and transportation
- 3,000 oxygen concentrator
- 500 oxygen cylinders for delivering oxygen therapy to patients at home or in hospital
While Walmart committed to donating 500 cylinders, we exceeded our commitment by donating more than 900 cylinders. Everything was sourced and donated to hospitals through NGOs like International Medical Corps, Doctors For You, and Americares for distribution.
Flipkart shapes new policies dedicated to wellbeing of employees’ families
Flipkart continues to prioritize employee well-being with a slew of measures extending care and wellness initiatives to all employees, including supply chain staff, across the country.
Beyond grieving for colleagues lost to COVID-19, Flipkart stands with their families. The new Family Support Policy for India extends additional support for the families and dependents of Flipkart employees who have lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flipkart has also introduced a first-of-its-kind unlimited medical insurance cover for employees, thereby fully covering all medical expenses and cost of hospitalization, without employees paying any premium for it.
Additional support measures for families, apart from existing provisions, have been introduced. These include life insurance cover, education support, medical insurance cover and financial planning assistance.
Delivering Oxygen Supplies to Healthcare Facilities and Communities across India
As part of our ongoing response, Flipkart, PhonePe, and Walmart continue to support communities and healthcare facilities across India battle an upsurge in COVID-19 cases. Walmart has donated critical medical supplies through NGOs like International Medical Corps, Doctors For You, and Americares. Walmart’s global capabilities and Flipkart’s local distribution network have helped ensure vital oxygen and supplies are made available to those who need them most.
Walmart committed to donate up to 20 oxygen-generating plants and 20 cryogenic containers for oxygen storage and transportation, as well as more than 3,000 oxygen concentrators and 500 oxygen cylinders for delivering oxygen therapy to patients at home or in hospital. These are being sourced globally and are being donated to hospitals through NGOs for distribution. Walmart has also committed to fund an additional 2,500 oxygen concentrators as part of the US-India Business Council and US-India Strategic Partnership Forum’s joint relief effort.
Walmart is donating D-type cylinders and 5L and 10L concentrators to our NGO partners to make available for distribution in cities and communities across India. We are also supplying oxygen generation plants to medical facilities to produce medical-grade oxygen.
MyLab starts shipping COVID-19 self-test kit, CoviSelf™; To be available at pharmacies and on Flipkart
Mylab Discovery Solutions, one of the leading biotechnology companies in India, announced the commercial launch of its COVID-19 self-test kit, CoviSelf™, after receiving approval from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). It is the first test kit for COVID-19 that can be self-administered by citizens at home, in India. This indigenous test kit will be distributed through to 95% of the PIN codes in the county and will be available over-the-counter at pharmacies and drugstores across India. Individuals can also order it online on Flipkart. To ensure safe deliveries, Flipkart also offers contactless payments for consumers and will leverage its safe and sanitized supply chain. One million self-test kits will be rolled out starting today and, based on consumer demand, up to 7 million units will be made available per week. The product should be available in retail within 2-3 days. The company plans to make the products available on the Government e-marketplace (GEM).
Priced at INR 250, CoviSelf™ offers a comfortable, easy-to-use and accurate alternative to the current test method. It can be used by individuals with or without symptoms and immediate contacts of confirmed cases as per the ICMR guidelines. Designed as the mid-nasal swab test, it can detect positive results in just 15 mins. Each unit contains a testing kit, instructions to use (IFU) leaflet and a bag to safely dispose of after testing.
Check-out Giving – Donate with ease every time you shop on Flipkart
Customers can now use the Check-Out Giving feature on the Flipkart shopping app to make nominal donations towards supporting relief efforts to battle the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
Our customers have been ever-ready to extend their support to those in need, and in challenging times like these, we want to enable them to help in the simplest ways possible. Shoppers on Flipkart can now add a nominal amount (INR 10) towards donation while checking out, making it simple and easy to contribute to creating a positive impact.
You have the power to drive change with a click. Spread the word and #GiveAsYouShop Click To TweetAt present, the check-out donations are directed towards COVID-19 care efforts through our on-ground partner GiveIndia. As we move forward, this feature will enable customers to contribute towards more causes and communities.
Employee and empathy first: From vaccinations to outreach, here’s how we’re navigating COVID-19 challenges at Flipkart
As the country continues to battle the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, employees across the Flipkart Group have been working to keep supply lines open to ensure that Indian consumers have safe and timely access to essential daily necessities. Some, in addition to this, have also been volunteering their time to help colleagues and fellow Indians in their time of need. All the while, many have been battling crises of their own.
We are incredibly proud of our employees, and in these challenging times, we have been prioritizing their health and safety.
From vaccination drives to healthcare initiatives, physical and mental health check-ins to financial aid amid emergencies, our aim has been to solve for our employees’ current needs with urgency and empathy.
Take a look at the many employee-first initiatives in place across the Flipkart Group.
Flipkart strengthens supply chain with 23,000 new hires
In the past three months, over March – May 2021, Flipkart has hired 23,000 people across the country in various capacities across its supply chain, including delivery executives. The additional hiring aims to meet the growing demand for e-commerce services across the country while providing livelihoods and employment.
The growing demand for e-commerce services across the country as people continue to remain indoors to fight the virus necessitated a ramp-up of Flipkart’s supply chain, creating thousands of employment opportunities. All new hires will be covered under Flipkart’s healthcare and wellness initiatives to ensure their safety during these testing times.
With India witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases, Flipkart values the safety of its employees, customers, sellers and ecosystem partners above all else. From strict safety regulations and protocols across warehouses to driving awareness on safety behaviour, we are undertaking training programs for direct hires in various aspects of the supply chain. Through a mix of classroom and digital training, enhancing their understanding of supply chain management, these trainings are being undertaken through mobile applications such as WhatsApp, Zoom, and Hangouts, along with Flipkart’s own Learning Management System (LMS). These training sessions span customer service, delivery, installation and safety and sanitation measures along with the handling of hand-held devices, PoS Machines, scanners, various mobile applications and ERPs. They are also informed and trained in the safety regulations and protocols around COVID-19 to ensure their and customers’ safety.
Read the press release on Flipkart Newsroom
Bringing much-needed oxygen supplies to underserved and rural communities across India
The Flipkart Group together with Walmart and PhonePe, in partnership with International Medical Corps, Doctors For You, and Americares, is committed to helping our communities in India battle the devastating COVID-19 surge. We are leveraging our global supply chain in combination with our trusted local networks to send life-saving equipment to India.
As India battles oxygen shortages due to COVID-19, this partnership is enabling critical oxygen supplies — 47-litre cylinders and 5- and 10-litre concentrators — to reach underserved and rural communities across the country.
As of May 17, 2021, 250 5-litre oxygen concentrators facilitated by our partner Americares are on the plane to India, while 125 47-litre oxygen cylinders are on the way to Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, with more to follow.
Meanwhile, batches of 47-litre oxygen cylinders were delivered to Super Specialty Hospital in Amravati district, Maharashtra, and Rural Hospital in Radhanagari, Kolhapur district, Maharashtra.
The Walmart Foundation is donating $2 million to support various NGOs in India. A total of about $1 million will be allocated through the Walmart Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, a donor-advised fund, to recommend support for Doctors for You to operate isolation centers and temporary hospitals, as well as provide PPE for frontline medical workers.
The other $1 million will be allocated to GIVE Foundation Inc to support GiveIndia’s COVID response fund, which will support physical infrastructure and equipment for the medical sector in India, prioritizing the most impacted and vulnerable communities.
We are grateful for these strong partnerships as we remain committed to helping communities across India with access to necessary life-saving equipment.
Vaccination drive commences for Flipkart and Myntra frontline staff
Our frontline employees have been working tirelessly to ensure that people in cities and towns across India have access to their daily needs amid the second wave of the pandemic. Their safety and health are our priority. To ensure that they are well protected, we commenced a vaccination drive on May 12 for Flipkart and Myntra’s frontline employees in Bengaluru in partnership with Manipal Hospitals, with more such drives to follow for the rest of the workforce.
We have partnered with leading hospitals to facilitate vaccination camps at our offices in Bengaluru, NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai. Flipkart and Myntra will cover 100% of the vaccination cost for all employees, including 5 dependents each. Employees and their dependents needing medical care are covered under an insurance program for hospitalisation expenses and home treatment.
Flipkart and Myntra are also working closely with partners to offer support in finding hospital beds, arranging doctor teleconsultations, facilitating COVID-19 tests, identifying suitable quarantine facilities, arranging isolation facilities in hotels through hospital partnerships and providing medical supplies for all corporate and supply chain employees.
Multiple initiatives to support our seller and artisan communities
Flipkart has extended various initiatives to lakhs of MSMEs, small scale sellers, artisans, weavers and handicraft partners; helping them tide through challenges in the current scenario.
The fresh efforts range from financial benefits, health and safety benefits, support through existing seller policies all the way through working capital and insights provided to sellers on the platform.
Under fee waivers, Flipkart has exempted the storage fees to curb the impact that any seller may have on their inventory that is fulfilled through our fulfilment centers. Flipkart is also waiving off the cancellation fee till May 31, 2021, for orders that may have been cancelled due to lockdowns in various states.
Prioritizing the health and safety of all, Flipkart will bear 100% premium of COVID insurance extended to all sellers, that covers their hospitalization and consultation between ₹50,000 to ₹3 Lakhs.
Walmart, Flipkart, PhonePe & the Walmart Foundation leverage global resources to support India’s pandemic battle
Walmart is mobilizing its global resources to further expand support for COVID-19 relief efforts in India.
Walmart, the Walmart Foundation, Flipkart and PhonePe, along with Walmart’s Global Technology and Sourcing hubs, are collaborating to counter oxygen shortages, support the national vaccination drive and donate to organizations making a difference in communities nationwide.
To help India meet its urgent need for medical-grade oxygen, Walmart businesses worldwide are working together to procure vital oxygen concentrators and other equipment. Walmart will donate up to 20 oxygen-generating plants and 20 cryogenic containers for oxygen storage and transportation, as well as more than 3,000 oxygen concentrators and 500 oxygen cylinders for delivering oxygen therapy to patients at home or in hospital.
Extending these efforts, the Walmart Foundation is donating INR 148.2 million (USD $2 million) to support various NGOs in India.
Additionally, Walmart, Flipkart and PhonePe continue to step up efforts to encourage COVID-19 vaccination, including setting up on-site vaccination clinics, at no cost, for associates and their households, as well as Flipkart and PhonePe’s full-time contractors and delivery workers – more than 200,000 people.
COVID-19 vaccination drive for all employees, including 5 dependents
Flipkart will cover 100% vaccination cost for all our employees, including 5 dependents, as the country combats a devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the country-wide COVID-19 vaccination drive set to open to all above-18 on May 1, 2021, Flipkart will partner with hospitals to facilitate Vaccination Camps at our offices in Bengaluru, NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai. The camps will follow best-in-class safety and hygiene protocols, and will be well-equipped to handle any immediate post-vaccination symptoms.
In all other cities, employees can register at a nearby partner hospital or any vaccination center in their resident cities and have the cost reimbursed.
You can now use your Flipkart SuperCoins to donate ambulance services and oxygen refills
As we battle the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, oxygen supply and ambulance services are the need of the hour. In such difficult times, we want to enable our ecosystem to help even in the simplest ways possible.
Flipkart customers can now use their SuperCoins to donate directly towards ambulance services and oxygen cylinder refills. Our NGO partner GiveIndia will help us mobilize the drive on ground for those in critical need.
While we will run the donation drive for as long as the country needs, we will also be increasing the scope of the drive in the coming days.
Please visit the SuperCoins page on your Flipkart app to contribute. Click here.
April 26, 2021: Flipkart partners with Department of Medical Health & Family Welfare, UP, to deliver Covid Care kits
Flipkart has partnered with the Department of Medical Health and Family Welfare and Lucknow Administration to manage the last-mile delivery of Covid Care kits, which include essential medicines to patients recovering at home.
Through our city-wide delivery network, Flipkart will deliver 3,000-4,000 Covid Care kits daily for the coming month, as we work towards continuing to meet the needs of consumers during the pandemic.
To enable these deliveries, a separate team of delivery executives have been identified to support this cause in a dedicated and compliant manner. Strict safety protocols and guidelines will be followed during these deliveries.
Flipkart executives will collect the kits from Medical Centres and make the deliveries at the addresses provided, helping the local administration expand their capacity and reach more people in need.
Help healthcare heroes and critical patients as they fight COVID-19, again
Your support can protect frontline healthcare heroes and patients in need of critical medical care during this devastating second wave of COVID-19.
Flipkart and GiveIndia have joined hands to equip charitable hospitals and healthcare workers fighting the pandemic with life-saving essentials like oxygen supply, N95 masks, PPE kits, hand sanitisers, vaccinations and essential care.
Join the mission. Save lives.
Donations made through this platform are tax-exempt under 80G & 501(c)(3).
April 16, 2021 – COVID-19 safety protocol in Maharashtra
The Flipkart Group is committed to the safety of all its employees, sellers and stakeholders conducting business with us while meeting the requirements of millions of our customers through our safe supply chain.
Throughout the pandemic, our efforts have been to prioritise the safety of our supply chain and delivery executives and our customers. By delivering to customers across the country, thousands of our delivery heroes have been able to keep customers safe by reducing the need for them to step out of their homes to buy products. At the same time, we have been able to help lakhs of sellers/MSMEs and artisans keep their businesses operational by offering a lively marketplace for them to sell their products, in the process creating lakhs of much-needed jobs.
With the rising number of cases lately, we continue to follow the highest safety and SOPs that we developed and institutionalised over the last several months. Our learnings have been immense, and we are ensuring that appropriate safety equipment such as masks, sanitisers are available with employees as they follow covid-appropriate behaviour.
In view of the Maharashtra State Government’s new guidelines, we are taking definitive steps to ensure our frontline workers, including our delivery, product installation executives and kirana partners, are tested for COVID-19 as expected while delivering shipments.
Additionally, and in line with government regulations, our delivery personnel in Maharashtra go through RT-PCR tests every 15 days and will carry the negative test report along with them at all times.
One year after COVID-19, we continue our relentless focus on Safe Commerce
COVID-19 Vaccination Drive for all Flipkart and Myntra employees
The Flipkart Group will cover 100% of the vaccination cost for all Flipkart and Myntra employees and three dependents. Employees can choose to be reimbursed for the costs of the vaccinations or get them free of charge at a partner hospital. Alternatively, they can choose to participate in any future vaccination drive organized on campus or facilities at major locations.
Employees can avail of a day’s leave to manage the vaccination process. Additionally, they can avail of COVID special care leave to manage any symptoms post-vaccination.
Currently, the vaccine is one of the most effective tools in our arsenal to arrest the pandemic and its adverse consequences. However, opting for the vaccine is left completely to the discretion of employees while they are urged to consider the benefits, understand its effectiveness, and make the right decision for themselves and their families.
