(May 7): Amazon.com Inc said a “small number of roles” in Singapore will be impacted as it phases out local fulfilment including Amazon Fresh in the city-state.
The move is part of a broader shift towards international e-commerce and prioritises growing demand in Singapore for products sourced from overseas, Amazon said in a statement on Thursday.
Amazon Fresh and grocery partnerships with Little Farms and AS Watson Group will be discontinued from July 6, the company said in a separate email update to members.
“We’re responding by increasing our investment in what customers tell us they want most,” said Peter Li, Amazon Singapore country manager. The e-commerce giant is helping affected workers find new roles within the company and offering severance payments and career transition services for those who are unable to.
Amazon said it’s working to transition vendors and sellers to alternative ways to continue serving customers in Singapore and remains committed to the island. It employs 2,500 people in Singapore across its retail, global selling, entertainment, devices and Amazon Web Services businesses.
The company didn’t immediately respond to an email request for comment.
Amazon said in January it would cut 16,000 corporate roles globally as part of a drive to reduce bureaucracy and “increase ownership.” It also announced the closure of its Amazon-branded grocery stores and automated grab-and-go outlets, removing two key elements of its expansion into physical retail.
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