Meta lays off Singapore employees amid global job cuts

A LinkedIn user, identifying as a product manager at Meta’s Singapore office, shared on Feb. 11 that while she had witnessed previous layoffs during her nearly three-year tenure, it "never gets easier."

"Yesterday’s Meta layoffs have been deeply emotional and challenging for many of us," she wrote, adding that affected colleagues face an "uphill battle" to move forward.

She also noted that some employees let go had recently been on maternity or parental leave.

To assist affected employees, Christopher Fong, co-founder of career networking platform Key, organized a support gathering on Feb. 13, co-hosted by two former Meta employees who had previously been laid off.

"People who have been through layoffs want to help and offer a sense of comfort and inspiration to others going through the same," Fong told The Straits Times.

The Meta office sign in Brussels, Belgium, in December 2022. Photo courtesy of Reuters

He wrote on LinkedIn that the goal is to help tech professionals navigate layoffs, explore career opportunities, and offer support through casual meetups. His platform offers resources on layoffs, mental well-being, and networking.

Event co-organizer Grace Clapham, a leader in the Asia-Pacific Meta alumni community, said the layoffs in Singapore affected various departments, including engineering, partnerships, global business operations, and policy.

Anand Kumar Ramakrishnan, another event organizer, said at least two Meta Singapore employees were laid off shortly after returning from paternity and medical leave in late 2024. One employee, who had been on medical leave, was reportedly assured by human resources that her absence would not affect job security.

Meta’s layoffs follow a leaked internal memo by Janelle Gale, the company’s vice president of human resources, announcing global workforce reductions in February.

According to the memo, affected employees in the U.S. and other regions began receiving termination notices at 5 a.m. PST on Feb. 10. Employees in over a dozen countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa were set to receive their notices between Feb. 11 and 18.

Australia’s ChannelNews reported on Feb. 10 that Meta is cutting about 3,600 employees, approximately 5% of its workforce.