Indonesia's GoTo to cut 1,300 jobs to step up cost cutting

JAKARTA: Indonesia's biggest tech firm PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk said on Friday (Nov 18) it was laying off 1,300 workers, or 12 per cent of its workforce, joining a wave of technology firms retrenching after years of rapid hiring due to an uncertain economic outlook.

"Challenging global macroeconomic conditions are having a significant impact on businesses around the world and GoTo, like other prudent companies, is making adjustments to ensure it can navigate the uncertain road that lies ahead," it said in a statement.

GoTo said it has achieved around 800 billion rupiah (US$51 million) in cost savings in the first half of this year through efficiency measures in technology, marketing and outsourcing.

"However, the company has determined that further measures must be taken to ensure it is equipped to navigate the challenges ahead," it said about the job cuts.

Affected employees will receive at least one additional month's salary on top of what is statutory, as well as full notice in-lieu, GoTo said in a press release. 

They will also get to keep their laptops, have access to online training resources, and can be added to the GoTo alumni directory through which employees will be recommended to the GoTo business network. 

Psychological, financial and career counselling will be provided to those who need it until the end of May 2023. 

"Over the new few days and weeks there will be a series of meetings, 1:1s, and townhalls where we can answer your concerns," said Mr Soelistyo.

GoTo, which offers ride-hailing and financial services, went public in April with a US$1.1 billion stock sale.

Its shares are trading 44 per cent below its initial public offering price, as investor sentiment on the tech sector sours amid soaring inflation and interest rates.

Shares in GoTo rose 2.8 per cent on Friday after announcing the job cuts.

The company, backed by SoftBank Group, Alibaba Group and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, is exploring a coordinated secondary offering of shares held by pre-IPO shareholders after a lock-up period ends on Nov 30.

It reported in August that its half-year net loss more than doubled to nearly US$1 billion.

In recent months, Southeast Asia's largest-e-commerce firm Shopee cut jobs in various countries and shut some overseas operations as parent Sea struggled with losses.