HIGHLIGHTS

* Xiaomi India is reportedly cutting its workforce to bring its headcount to under 1000.
* According to an Economic Times report, the company has reportedly laid off over 30 employees in the last week or so.
* According to the report, Xiaomi India reportedly had around 1,500 workers at the start of 2023.

Xiaomi India is reportedly laying off more people in an operational rejig.
According to an Economic Times report, the company has laid off more than 30 employees in the last week.

As per the report, Xiaomi India, which had around 1,400 to 1,500 employees at the beginning of 2023, is planning to reduce its headcount to under 1,000.
The company is expected to let go of more employees in the coming weeks.

Xiaomi India is reportedly planning to reduce its workforce to under 1,000 employees due to organizational restructuring, a decline in market share, and increased scrutiny from government agencies.

According to a report by the Economic Times Xiaomi India, which employed approximately 1,400-1,500 employees at the beginning of 2023, has recently laid off around 30 employees and may lay off additional workers in the future.

According to the report, Xiaomi India has downsized its workforce in order to enhance operational efficiency and respond to shifting market dynamics. Due to a decline in market share, the company is actively reviewing its organizational structure and resource allocation strategies.

Meanwhile recently the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a show-cause notice to Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited, its Chief Financial Officer Sameer Rao, former Managing Director Manu Jain, as well as three banks on Friday, May 9.
The notice came in light of alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), with illegal remittances amounting to a staggering Rs 5,551.27 crore.

According to officials cited by news agency PTI, the ED initiated the action against Xiaomi India and its key executives based on their investigation into the company’s financial activities.

Additionally, the Chinese electronics giant has also partnered with homegrown Dixon Tech to locally manufacture Mi LED TVs.

Read on to learn all about the latest development at Xiaomi India.

Xiaomi India Reportedly Fires 30 Employees to Reduce Headcount

According to the report by Economic Times, Xiaomi India had around 1,500 employees at the start of the year. However, the company seems to be trying to reduce the headcount to under 1,000.
To this extent, the company has reportedly fired around 30 employees in the last week. And if the report is to be believed, more layoffs will come in the coming weeks.

The report also cites a Xiaomi spokesperson saying that these new job cuts are because of Xiaomi India’s declining market share. The company believes it is losing market in India due to “internal organisational issues.”

Another reason is that the Indian organisational restructuring plans and authority are centralised at the Chinese headquarters. The company is now changing its business outlook and has reportedly “empowered the local Indian leadership.”

While the company has plans to hand pink slips to more employees over the coming weeks, the report suggests that immediate layoffs are not on the cards.

This is because the leadership is reportedly under pressure to identify underperforming employees within the organisation. The company is said to lay off or retain employees based on their individual performance assessments.

Notably, Manu Kumar Jain, Global VP and face of Xiaomi India, called it quits after nine years with the company earlier this year. Jain’s exit came when the company was under scrutiny for tax evasion and losing the top spot in the smartphone market to Samsung, according to a Canalys research report.

Moreover, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a show cause notice to Xiaomi India to probe illegal remittance of 5,551.27 crores earlier this month.

It seems that these were the events that got the ball rolling for Xiaomi India to consider an organisational restructuring. Xiaomi India is actively reviewing various strategies to optimise resource allocation and streamline the organisational structure.

Xiaomi India sees major employee reshuffle; Headcounts Reduce to about 1000 from 1500

Xiaomi, the Chinese tech giant is severely reshuffling their employees in India in recent times. The headcount now stands at about 1000, which was about 1400 to 1500 previously.

According to reports, the past week saw Xiaomi India let go of about 30 people.
This comes in as a response to Xiaomi experiencing market share decline and scrutiny from the local government.
Reports are further suggestive of the fact, that more employees will follow in the near future.

The year 2023, saw Xiaomi India cutting off employees since the year started. Although the news doesn’t come in as a surprise to the market, the company is of the opinion that they will hire back employees when the time and need arises.

Xiaomi India spokesperson responded to Economic Times, “As with any company, we take headcount decisions based on the market’s state and business projections.”

Additional statements by a senior executive brought to light that the brand’s leadership team was requested to designate a part of the team for a performance review. This review would clear the employee’s way for termination based on their individual performance.

Xiaomi is one of the tech companies, which was offering employment opportunities to an appreciative number of individuals. The brand’s present move would have repercussions on the employees being cut off.

It hasn’t been stated yet what the brand is doing to ensure further security of these employees.

Faqs

1) Xiaomi India staff cut to below 1,000 amid government scrutiny, market slump: Report

Ans) Xiaomi India employed roughly 1,400 to 1,500 employees at the start of 2023 and around 30 people have been fired in the last week.

Xiaomi India is slashing its workforce to less than 1,000 employees as part of a restructuring process, the Economic Times (article beyond paywall) reported on Thursday. The cost-cutting measures come amid a slump in market share accompanied by increasing scrutiny from government agencies, the report stated, quoting past and present employees.

Last week, the Chinese smartphone brand sacked around 30 workers out of the nearly 1,400 to 1,500 staff it employed in the beginning of 2023. The company is likely to lay off more people in the coming months, the report added.

Decisions regarding the rejig and changes to internal structures were in the hands of the Chinese parent, the report said. The move aims to improve operational efficiency, streamline its organisational structure and optimise resource allocation. The headcount has steadily decreased since the beginning of the year amid a review of the company strategies.

Citing a senior Xiaomi executive, the report added that the top leadership had designed a performance improvement plan (PIP) based on which non-performing employees could be fired.

“As with any company, we take headcount decisions based on the market’s state and business projections,” the report quoted Xiaomi in a statement, adding that the firm continues to hire talent ‘when and where needed’.

Xiaomi India’s shipments dropped to 5 million in the first quarter of 2023 from 7-8 million a year ago. After being the top smartphone brand in India for 20 straight quarters, it fell to the third rank behind Samsung and Vivo with a market share of 16%.

Earlier in June, the Enforcement Directorate issued showcause notices to Xiaomi India, its officials and three banks under the Foreign Exchange Management Act for alleged foreign exchange violation of more than ₹5,551 crore. The notices were issued to Manu Kumar Jain, former MD, and Sameer B Rao, director and chief financial officer.

2) Xiaomi India begins layoffs and restructuring to ‘streamline operations’: Report

Ans) Xiaomi India, the popular Chinese smartphone brand, is undergoing a significant reorganisation as it faces challenges such as a decline in market share, increased scrutiny from government agencies, and a need to streamline its operations. According to several current and former employees who spoke to Economic Times, Xiaomi India has embarked on a headcount reduction strategy that aims to bring its workforce down to less than 1,000 employees.

At the beginning of 2023, Xiaomi India employed approximately 1,400 to 1,500 individuals. However, in recent weeks, the company has already laid off around 30 employees, with expectations of further job cuts in the months ahead, as stated by the aforementioned employees.

The decision to reduce its workforce is seemingly part of Xiaomi India’s broader efforts to adapt to the changing market dynamics and improve operational efficiency. With a slump in market share, the company is evaluating ways to optimise its organisational structure and allocate resources more effectively.

3) Xiaomi India cuts jobs amid market slump, staff reduced to less than 1000: Report

Ans) Xiaomi India is reducing its workforce to below 1,000 employees due to a restructuring within the organization, a decline in market share, and increased scrutiny from government agencies, according to a report by Economic Times.

As per the report from the publication, Xiaomi India, previously employing approximately 1,400-1,500 individuals at the beginning of 2023, has recently terminated around 30 employees, with the possibility of additional layoffs in the upcoming months.

Reportedly, Xiaomi India’s move to downsize its workforce appears to be a strategic response to the shifting dynamics of the market and a step towards enhancing operational efficiency. In light of a decline in market share, the company is actively reviewing strategies to streamline its organizational structure and optimize resource allocation.

4) What are Xiaomi reviewing company strategy?

Ans) The Chinese parent company of Xiaomi, a popular smartphone brand in India, is reportedly making decisions regarding internal restructuring and changes. According to the company, the goal of this move is to enhance operational efficiency, streamline the organisational structure, and optimise resource allocation. Throughout the year, the company has been reviewing its strategies, leading to a steady decline in its workforce.

5) How is Xiaomi India in hot waters?

Ans) In the first quarter of 2023, Xiaomi India experienced a drop in shipments, with only five million units sold compared to 7-8 million units the previous year. This decline has caused Xiaomi to lose its position as the top smartphone brand in India, a title it held for 20 consecutive quarters. It now ranks third, trailing behind Samsung and Vivo, with a market share of 16 per cent.

Furthermore, in June, the Enforcement Directorate, India’s economic intelligence agency, issued show-cause notices under the Foreign Exchange Management Act to Xiaomi India, its officials, and three banks. The allegations involve foreign exchange violations amounting to more than ₹5,551 crore. Show cause notices were served to Manu Kumar Jain, the former Managing Director, and Sameer B Rao, the Director and Chief Financial Officer of the company.

6) What is India’s ties with China ‘abnormal’?

Ans) Xiaomi India finds itself sitting in the crosshairs of deteriorating ties between India and China. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar earlier in April said that India’s ties with China were “abnormal” due to a violation of border management agreements by Beijing.

Also Read: Xiaomi 13T, 13T Pro launch date, price, specifications leaked ahead of official announcement

Also Read: Redmi Watch 3 Active on Xiaomi’s Global Website Ahead of Launch

Also Read: Redmi 12 Smartphone India Launch: Xiaomi Dream Smartphone Ready with the Indian Software