US chipmaker Qualcomm has started cutting jobs in India, and around 1,000 employees could be affected as the company pushes through a global restructuring. The first round began at its Bengaluru facility on Monday, 9 November, and the exercise is expected to roll out in phases to its other Indian centres in the coming days.
The layoffs are part of a wider workforce reduction that could touch about 7 per cent of Qualcomm’s roughly 52,000 employees worldwide. In India, where the company employs close to 20,000 people, reports put the likely impact at 5 to 6 per cent of the local workforce, or around 1,000 jobs, possibly a little more. Qualcomm has not officially confirmed the number, and reports note the final figure could turn out lower.
What has happened so far
The first notifications went out in Bengaluru, where senior engineers and employees with several years of experience were among those affected, according to reports in Moneycontrol and The Financial Express. The cuts follow layoffs that had already begun in the United States.
Qualcomm has large engineering and research centres in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR and Chennai, and the restructuring is expected to reach the other three cities in the coming days. The company’s chief executive, Cristiano Amon, had told employees in an internal memo on 20 October that a workforce reduction would follow the annual performance reviews in November, as part of an effort to build a stronger performance culture, Reuters reported.
The severance package on offer
Affected employees have reportedly been offered compensation worth three months’ salary, with additional payments linked to their length of service. Those who sign their relieving documents within three days are being offered an additional month’s salary as an incentive to accept quickly.
The terms have drawn attention because the extra month is tied to a three-day decision window. Employees who want more time to think, or to get advice, would give up that additional payment. Qualcomm has not publicly confirmed the severance terms, and queries sent to the company have reportedly gone unanswered.
- Base severance: three months’ salary, linked to tenure
- Extra payment: additional compensation based on years of service
- Early-exit bonus: one extra month’s salary for signing within three days
- Status: reported by multiple outlets, not officially confirmed by Qualcomm
Why Qualcomm is cutting jobs
The company is restructuring its global workforce at a time of pressure in the smartphone chip market, with revenue forecasts under strain, according to The Financial Express. The exercise has been described internally as a performance-focused reduction, coming right after the annual review cycle, rather than a single business-unit closure.
That framing matters for employees. A performance-linked reduction after reviews usually means the cuts are spread across teams, and reports say radio frequency, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GNSS engineering teams are among those affected in India.
What happens next
The rollout in India is expected to continue in phases, with Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR and Chennai next in line. Reports also suggest another round of job cuts could take place in January, which would mean the exercise extends well beyond the current round.
For now, Qualcomm has not issued an official statement on the India layoffs, the number of roles affected, or the severance terms. That silence leaves employees relying on internal communication and media reports, and the final scale of the cuts will only become clear as the phased process plays out.
What affected employees should keep in mind
A layoff notice is stressful, and a three-day window for an extra month’s pay adds pressure to decide fast. A few practical steps can help. Read the full separation terms before signing anything, and check what happens to notice pay, pending bonuses, unvested stock and health cover. Keep copies of every document, email and payslip. If anything in the offer is unclear, getting independent advice before the deadline is worth the effort, even if it means giving up the early-signing bonus.
The wider picture is also worth noting. India’s IT services hiring has been recovering in recent months, and experienced chip engineers remain in demand across the semiconductor and electronics industry. That does not soften the blow for those affected, but it does mean the job market they are stepping into is more active than it was a year ago.
FAQs
How many jobs are at risk at Qualcomm India?
Reports estimate around 1,000 jobs, or 5 to 6 per cent of Qualcomm’s roughly 20,000 employees in India. The company has not confirmed the number, and the final figure could be lower.
Which Qualcomm locations in India are affected?
The layoffs began in Bengaluru on 9 November and are expected to extend to Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR and Chennai in the coming days.
What severance is being offered?
Affected employees have reportedly been offered three months’ salary plus tenure-linked payments, with an extra month’s salary for signing their relieving documents within three days.
Will there be more layoffs?
Reports suggest another round could take place in January, but nothing has been confirmed officially.
Has Qualcomm confirmed the layoffs?
No. The company has not publicly confirmed the number of jobs affected in India or the severance terms.
Qualcomm’s India layoffs are still unfolding, and the coming days will show how far the phased cuts reach. For the engineers affected, the immediate questions are practical ones, about pay, paperwork and the next job, and the answers will come faster than the official word.
