London, July 17: Britain's largest retailer Tesco Plc said on Thursday it planned to create 3,500 new jobs, but the country's biggest private sector employer also said it would transfer 350 jobs to a low-cost centre in India. Tesco joins several other UK firms -- including telecoms firm BT Group and insurer Aviva -- to announce plans to switch jobs to India, which would cut costs. Salaries are about £1.25 an hour in India, compared with £5-10 in Britain.
"It's a sensible competitive move and a move to improve the business," said Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Tesco group director of corporate affairs.
Neville-Rolfe said the company's new business support office in Indian would utilise the country's good telecommunications s network and a quality workforce with strong computer skills. The jobs will be transferred in the next year.
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) welcomed the new jobs, but said it was in talks with Tesco about the shift to India.
Bureau Report