WiseTech has started notifying staff of redundancies as part of a plan to cut nearly 30% of its 7,000-strong workforce across 40 countries. The ASX-listed logistics software company announced in February that it would eliminate 2,000 jobs, attributing the move to advancements in artificial intelligence. A spokesperson confirmed that the process has begun in South Korea and Mexico, with other countries, including Australia, expected to follow next week.
However, workers have noted that an email sent to employees in China omitted the word “AI” and instead referred to a “global transformation”. The email, which outlined the redundancy timeline, had earlier stated that “AI has fundamentally changed how work gets done across many industries and businesses”. Employees in internal chat forums questioned whether the change was prompted by a recent Chinese court ruling that awarded compensation to a tech worker sacked and replaced by AI.
Chief executive Zubin Appoo responded that “different jurisdictions have different legal and regulatory requirements, which is why some communications may vary by country”. A company spokesperson added that the language of internal communications “has no bearing on the obligations we have to our employees in this process, which remain constant regardless of geography”.
Morale among staff, who have waited months for clarity, is reported to be low. One Sydney-based employee described the anxiety as having shifted to sadness, noting that “not that long ago people were genuinely proud to work here … and it took a few days to destroy that completely”. Another employee in Germany said leadership was “ghosting their complete reporting line” and that “everything has come to a halt” due to a lack of clear guidance.
Professionals Australia, the union representing tech workers, presented a petition signed by nearly 600 WiseTech employees last week, calling for fair redundancy packages, transparency and genuine consultation. Paul Inglis, the union’s director, said, “This is what AI disruption looks like on the ground and workers are terrified.”
