Agoda Cuts 50 Singapore Jobs Amid Regional Restructuring
Agoda's Singapore office cuts 50 jobs in regional restructuring affecting customer experience operations across Asia and Europe, with controversial severance terms raising compliance concerns.
Agoda's Singapore office where 50 employees were affected by recent layoffs
Online travel platform Agoda has laid off 50 employees in Singapore as part of a broader restructuring affecting operations across Asia and Europe, highlighting ongoing challenges in the digital travel sector.
Regional Impact and Restructuring Details
During a virtual town hall meeting on August 4, management announced the retrenchment of all customer experience group (CEG) employees across Singapore, Shanghai, and Budapest offices. The decision comes as the company grapples with cost pressures and recruitment challenges, similar to recent workforce adjustments affecting Singapore's service sector.
Controversial Severance Terms
According to documents reviewed by The Business Times, affected employees were instructed not to report the retrenchment to government agencies and statutory bodies, including:
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
- Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep)
- Trade unions
The severance terms have raised concerns about transparency in corporate restructuring, reminiscent of recent business compliance issues in Singapore's corporate sector.
Impact on Singapore's Digital Economy
This development comes amid Singapore's broader push for digital transformation, where financial technology and digital services continue to reshape the employment landscape. The travel technology sector faces particular challenges in balancing operational costs with market demands.
Wei-Ling Tan
Tech and economy specialist, covering innovation in Southeast Asia from Singapore for both English-language and regional media outlets.