A Lazada company spokesperson informed on Wednesday evening that the company is “making proactive adjustments to transform its workforce, to better position ourselves for a more agile, streamlined way of working to meet future business needs”.
This comes as news broke that Lazada Singapore has announced layoffs with over 100 already being let go.
The spokesperson further added “For the past few years, Lazada has continually evolved to ensure we maintain a sustainable business growth model.
“This transformation necessitates that we reassess our workforce requirements and operational structure to ensure Lazada is better positioned to future-proof our business and people.”
Questions about the extent of the layoffs and the reason for this round of retrenchment remain unanswered. An employee estimated the company has about 8,000 to 10,000 members of staff in Singapore, including the logistics team.
Singapore media CNA said it understands that Lazada Singapore had retrenched some workers last year, but it was usually just a few people or a particular department that was affected. This time, staff from all parts of the company – and at all levels – have been affected.
It was “baffling” because the three employees said they saw people who were star performers and even those who had just been promoted axed, and it was impossible to know who would be next.
They also said that the severance package was lower than expected, and worse than what other tech companies such as Shopee and Grab had offered to their employees who were laid off last year.
One interviewee said this is the largest layoff exercise she has experienced, and it was “demoralising”. All said they found it impossible to work as many of the people they had been collaborating with had been laid off.
