Ashok Leyland to cut 1,000 jobs

BANGALORE: Automobile manufacturer Ashok Leyland plans to cut 1,000 jobs during 2003-04, and to improve productivity through better processes and standardisation, R Seshasayee, the company managing director, said here on Monday.
"We had reduced our strength from 15,300 six-seven years ago to 11,900 now. We will probably have to reduce by another 1,000," Seshasayee told reporters on the sidelines of "Tele Trans 2003", a conference on telematics in transportation here.
He said though the Indian auto industry had come out of recession, there was going to be no additional employment.
"The Indian automobile industry has a very high level of manning," Seshasayee said.
He said Ashok Leyland had a plans for exports and was exploring new markets like Argentina, Afghanistan and Seychelles.
"We have broken new markets into Seychelles and Afghanistan during the year. We have a robust plan for export in 2002-03," Seshasayee said.