SINGAPORE: Staff across Swedish fashion retailer H&M’s East Asia regional market – which includes Singapore – are being asked to reapply for roles, with those who are unsuccessful facing “mutual separation” in line with local employment laws.
It is not clear which markets and how many employees are affected. Based on H&M Group’s latest annual report, it had 368 employees in Singapore last year across several brands including H&M, COS and & Other Stories.
Staff can reapply for 178 available roles, said three employees who spoke to CNA on condition of anonymity. So far, no one has been laid off as this process is ongoing, and the restructuring and staffing decisions will take effect by Jul 1.
Of the roles available, 80 are in H&M’s Southeast Asia offices – mostly in Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City, an employee said. Four of these roles, including legal functions, will be based in Singapore.
A second employee told CNA that roles formerly in Singapore are being moved to Kuala Lumpur and Manila.
Staff were officially informed of H&M’s plans to restructure, including moving its Southeast Asia headquarters from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, on May 11.
In the same announcement, H&M employees across East Asia were asked to take part in a staff “calibration” exercise by May 21, the employees told CNA.
