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Gojek joins global tech lay-offs in slashing 9 per cent of staff

  • Indonesia’s largest start-up will cut 430 jobs, as it grapples with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic
  • The move underscores Gojek’s effort to streamline its core businesses to focus on digital payments

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A Go-Jek motorcycle driver checks his smartphone, while preparing for another delivery in Jakarta, Indonesia. Gojek managers pledged to funnel 25 per cent of their salaries over the next year into a fund designed to support drivers, merchants and partners, following the company’s decision to cut 430 jobs. Photo: Bloomberg

Gojek, the ride-hailing and delivery giant competing with Grab Holdings, will cut 430 jobs or 9 per cent of employees, as it grapples with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Many of the staff reductions hit newer divisions GoLife and GoFood Festivals, Indonesia’s largest start-up said in a statement on Tuesday. The household services and dining divisions will close in July, it said.

The move underscores Gojek’s effort to streamline its core businesses to focus on digital payments, transport and food delivery, which are aimed at helping the super app operator move toward profitability.

Gojek joins arch-rival Grab in culling staff, as Asia’s biggest technology start-ups grapple with global coronavirus lockdowns.

“The biggest challenge is the level of uncertainty ahead and the hard fact that this will forever change how some of our businesses and products need to operate,” Gojek co-chief executives Andre Soelistyo and Kevin Aluwi said in an internal email to employees on Tuesday.

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