Uber Shakes Up Global Operations, Cuts 10% of Workforce, Exits Nigeria and Uganda

Ride-hailing giant Uber is set to cut about 10 per cent of its global workforce as part of a major organisational restructuring aimed at making the company “simpler and faster.”

Uber Chief Executive Officer, Dara Khosrowshahi, announced the layoffs in a message to employees on Wednesday, saying the changes would affect the company’s operations globally.

“Today, we’re making a number of significant organisational changes across Uber,” Khosrowshahi said. “As a result, we will be reducing the size of our team by about 10 percent.”

Uber has approximately 34,000 employees operating across more than 70 countries, according to a recent filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company said the restructuring was designed to reduce internal coordination delays, clarify responsibilities and speed up decision-making across its increasingly expansive operations.

“A leaner organisation will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating,” Khosrowshahi said.

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Founded in 2009, Uber transformed the transportation industry by connecting passengers with drivers through its digital platform, challenging traditional taxi and private-car businesses.

The company has since expanded beyond ride-hailing into food and retail delivery, courier services and other mobility-related businesses.

However, Uber has faced persistent concerns from drivers in several countries over compensation and the cost of maintaining vehicles used on its platform.

The latest restructuring comes alongside a major retreat from some African markets.

Uber announced on Wednesday that it would shut down its operations in Nigeria and Uganda, following its earlier exit from Tanzania.

The company’s decision marks another significant change to its African operations as it seeks to streamline its global business and focus resources on markets it considers strategically viable.

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AFP