Amazon has begun another significant wave of layoffs, with its latest round expected to affect around 16,000 employees globally. Sources indicate that India will not be spared, with an estimated 500 to 700 roles likely to be impacted across Amazon Web Services (AWS) and retail teams.
The decision forms part of Amazon’s ongoing global restructuring efforts, which aim to streamline operations, reduce management layers, and sharpen the company’s focus on efficiency amid a rapidly changing digital and retail environment.
Amazon job cuts in India
According to reports from Business Standard, the impact on India is expected to be concentrated in Amazon Web Services (AWS) and its retail operations, two divisions that play a crucial role in both domestic and global markets.
The report states that sources familiar with the matter suggested that subpar sales performance during the last few festive and sales events could be one of the contributing factors behind the job cuts in India. Amazon reportedly failed to meet its desired market outcomes, prompting internal reviews and cost adjustments.
In the Amazon note to employees, Beth Galetti, Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology, emphasised that the move is part of a strategic realignment rather than a recurring practice. She stated that teams across Amazon will continue to evaluate “ownership, speed, and capacity to innovate” as they are adapting to new business realities.
India remains one of Amazon’s most critical global talent hubs, housing large engineering, product development, and operations teams that support both its domestic marketplace and international services. However, like other major tech firms, Amazon is under growing pressure to balance costs and productivity as it shifts priorities towards automation and profitability.
Amazon’s internal messages reveal information.
The full scale of Amazon’s latest layoffs is becoming clearer, with new internal documents shedding light on where the cuts are landing hardest. According to Business Insider, confidential Slack messages and executive memos reveal that the company’s prized cloud computing and retail divisions have both been deeply affected, as Amazon continues to streamline operations under its global restructuring plan.
Many of the employees impacted held software engineering roles, and several posted on internal channels seeking new job opportunities both within and outside the company.
For those based in the United States, Amazon has outlined a 90-day transition period. During this time, affected employees will continue to receive full pay and benefits while being allowed to apply for internal roles within the company.
Workers who do not secure another position or opt out of the redeployment process will be offered a severance package, career outplacement support, and extended health insurance coverage.
An internal FAQ seen by Business Insider also outlined the next steps for employees as they wrap up their employment.
Staff have until February 13 to complete an official company survey regarding the retrieval of personal belongings from their workspaces. Amazon has arranged for shipping boxes to be sent to departing employees to return company laptops and other equipment once their separation becomes official.
Any personal items not claimed by the deadline will reportedly be donated or disposed of.
