Layoffs and job cuts in Singapore in 2024

Published Mon, Dec 30, 2024 · 120 PM

RETRENCHMENTS and unemployment in Singapore eased in the third quarter, but the current quarter posted some prominent layoffs. From the beverage sector to consumer electronics and e-commerce, here are some of the major job cuts that grabbed headlines this year.

Yeo Hiap Seng and Oatly, Singapore, 59
Beverage giant Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) will lay off 25 of its employees directly involved in the manufacturing operations of Oatly.

These are in addition to the 34 Oatly staff affected by the closure of the Swedish oat milk producer’s plant here, taking the total to 59.
The remaining 16 of the 41 Yeo’s employees at the plant have been redeployed to other roles within Yeo’s, the company said on Dec 19.

The Swedish producer announced on Dec 18 its plans to close its Singapore facility to improve the company’s future cost structure and reduce future capital expenditure needs.

Canon, Singapore, undisclosed
Japanese tech giant Canon laid off an undisclosed number of employees at its Singapore office, affecting “a low single-digit percentage” of its 700-strong workforce here, The Straits Times reported in December.
The Canon Singapore office oversees the sales and marketing activities in India and South-east Asia.

Doctor Anywhere, South-east Asia, 45
The telemedicine provider said it is shedding 45 jobs, or 8.1 per cent of its total headcount, across Singapore and South-east Asia, to cut costs and reprioritise operations. Founder and chief executive Lim Wai Mun announced the layoffs via an e-mail to staff earlier this month.

The move will impact staff in roles deemed duplicative as the company streamlines operations and restructures its tech team, a Doctor Anywhere spokesperson said on Dec 13.

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