Meta’s ongoing global restructuring has now affected staff members in Singapore, marking another chapter in the social media giant’s cost-cutting efforts.

Employees in the city-state have found themselves caught in the latest wave of layoffs, a move that aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to streamline operations and enhance performance.

The restructuring was first revealed in an internal memo from Janelle Gale, Meta’s vice president of HR, which was leaked in February.

According to the memo, affected employees across Europe, Asia, and Africa would receive layoff notices between February 10 and February 18, with notifications commencing at 9 pm Singapore time.

For many Meta employees, the layoffs have been a bitter pill to swallow. A Singapore-based product manager took to LinkedIn to share her experience, describing how this was not her first encounter with job cuts at the company but that it “never gets easier”.

The employee expressed the emotional weight of seeing colleagues’ profiles deactivated overnight – some of whom had only recently returned from maternity or parental leave in 2024.

Such stories underscore the human cost behind corporate restructuring, raising concerns about the treatment of employees navigating critical life events.

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Meta fires employees facing critical life events

In an effort to provide solace and support, Christopher Fong, co-founder of the career networking platform Key, spearheaded a gathering for affected workers at a bar in Clarke Quay on February 13, The Straits Times reported.

The event drew about 20 attendees, half of whom had recently lost their jobs.

The initiative was not just about professional networking but also about creating a safe space for people to share their experiences and plan their next steps.

Co-organiser Grace Clapham, who leads the APAC Meta alumni community, highlighted the breadth of roles affected, from engineering to partnerships and policy, stressing that different employees require different kinds of support – from immediate financial guidance to long-term career navigation.

Particularly troubling are the cases of employees who had just returned from medical or parental leave.

Anand Kumar Ramakrishnan, another event co-organiser, revealed that two of those who were laid off had only recently resumed work after paternity and medical leave.

One individual, who had been on medical leave, had sought clarity from Meta’s HR department on whether their absence would influence redundancy decisions and was assured it would not – only to find themselves among the newly unemployed.

Exploiting ‘weak’ labour environments

Beyond individual grievances, the layoffs have also reignited discussions about labour rights and collective bargaining.

Ives Tay, who runs his own HR consulting firm in Singapore, shed light on the disparity that workers worldwide face when it comes to job cuts.

“If you’re in Germany, France or Italy, you’re safe. Thank their labour laws,” Tay said.

“But if you’re in the US, Asia including Singapore, or Africa? You’re left exposed.

“This isn’t just about Meta. It’s about a system where corporations exploit weaker labour environments while respecting workers only when forced to by law.”

Tay outlined questions aimed at uncovering this disparity. “Why don’t Asian workers, who power so much of the tech industry, get the same protections as Europeans? How do we demand fair treatment for workers globally?”

The Creative Media and Publishing Union, which represents some tech professionals, has voiced concerns about the absence of unionisation within Meta, but has offered support for affected workers.

“In retrenchment exercises where there are individual union members working in non-unionised companies, NTUC’s affiliated unions or associations will extend assistance to these individual members, should they be affected by the exercise,” the CMPU said.

Unlike in some other industries, Meta employees in Singapore lack a structured avenue for negotiation or redress, leaving them to navigate job losses largely on their own. The CMPU has encouraged affected workers to seek their assistance, pledging to offer guidance during this difficult transition.

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Meta appears to be revamping APAC operations

The broader context of Meta’s layoffs reveals a strategic shift rather than a temporary cost-cutting measure.

The company previously announced plans to trim 5% of its global workforce, affecting around 3,600 employees, including those in its Asia-Pacific operations.

As part of its regional restructuring, Meta has also moved its Singapore team to a new office at Marina One, choosing not to renew its lease at South Beach Tower – a sign of its recalibrated operational priorities.

When approached for comment, a Meta spokesperson declined to provide specific details about the Singapore layoffs, instead referencing previous statements on the company’s “performance terminations” from January.

This lack of clarity only adds to the unease among employees and industry observers, and reinforces the need for companies to prioritise communication and fair treatment during turbulent times.

Meta workers reeling from the layoffs

As Singapore’s tech sector grapples with the fallout, the focus is shifting from the layoffs themselves to how affected professionals can rebuild.

Grassroots initiatives like Key’s networking events and the Meta alumni community’s outreach efforts provide much-needed lifelines.

While the road ahead remains uncertain, these collaborative efforts offer a reminder that career setbacks, though painful, do not have to be navigated alone.