Google’s Singapore office undergoes significant layoffs as part of global downsizing
Google has retrenched 189 employees from its Singapore office, representing approximately 6% of its workforce there, as reported by a Mothership reader employed by the company. Among those impacted, 20 are believed to be software engineers. The layoffs follow the announcement by Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., of a global reduction of over 12,000 jobs, starting in January 2023.
At the time of its 2022 blog post, Google confirmed it employed around 3,000 staff members in Singapore. While the company has not disclosed the exact number of affected employees in Singapore, they confirmed that these job cuts form part of the global downsizing. Google has assured that impacted workers will receive support aligned with local practices during their job search.
The layoffs have led to a decline in morale among remaining staff, according to sources at Google Singapore. This move is part of a broader trend across the tech industry, with other major companies like Twitter, Meta, and Yahoo also announcing job cuts in recent months. LinkedIn, Deliveroo, and other firms have similarly downsized their workforce.
The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) has urged companies to adhere to guidelines for responsible retrenchment and ensure they notify the Ministry of Manpower within five working days of informing employees about layoffs.
