Bengaluru, Nov 11:
US semiconductor manufacturer Qualcomm has initiated a workforce reduction drive across its Indian operations, placing an estimated 1,000 engineering and support positions at risk as part of a global restructuring plan.
The layoffs commenced at the company’s Bengaluru research and development facility on Monday, with the exercise expected to roll out in phases across centers in Hyderabad and Chennai. The move follows an internal communication issued by Qualcomm chief executive Cristiano Amon outlining plans to trim approximately seven per cent of the company’s 52,000-strong global workforce following its annual performance review cycle to align resources with emerging priorities.
Affected employees have reportedly been offered severance packages comprising three months’ base pay linked to length of service, healthcare transition support, and an additional month’s salary for personnel who execute exit documentation within three days. The downsizing comes amid a slowdown in global smartphone chipset demand, with market research analysts projecting a 26 to 28 per cent contraction in domestic smartphone shipments by volume this year, even as Qualcomm reallocates capital toward automotive platforms and artificial intelligence data-centre architectures.