Qualcomm has started laying off employees in India as part of a global, performance-focused workforce restructuring. Some employees have already received separation notices. The company hasn’t confirmed how many roles in India are being cut.
How many jobs are at risk
Qualcomm employs about 52,000 people worldwide, around 20,000 of them in India. The global restructuring could affect roughly 7% of the total workforce, the Financial Express reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. At a similar ratio, that would put about 1,000 or more jobs in India at risk.
Later reports suggest the actual number in India may be considerably lower, HRKatha reported. The cuts are expected to roll out in phases and reach the company’s engineering and research operations in India, its largest such base outside the US. One report said the Bengaluru facility is among those affected, and another round of layoffs is likely in January, NewsBytes reported.
What the CEO told employees
CEO Cristiano Amon announced the cuts in an internal memo to staff on October 20, 2026, Reuters reported. He described it as a “performance-focused reduction” that would follow the company’s annual employee reviews, with notifications starting in November. The memo didn’t say how many jobs would be affected.
Amon said the cuts were part of an effort to build what he called a stronger performance culture. He said business priorities, organisational needs, skills and expertise would be weighed in deciding which roles go. He added that the competencies the company needs have grown along with the business, and that it must have:
“the right people in the right roles” Cristiano Amon, CEO, Qualcomm, in an internal memo reported by Reuters
What Indian labour law requires
India’s Industrial Relations Code, 2020, in force since November 21, 2025, sets statutory retrenchment compensation at 15 days’ average pay for every completed year of continuous service. Employers must also contribute 15 days’ last-drawn wages for each retrenched worker to a Worker Re-Skilling Fund, credited to the worker’s account within 45 days of retrenchment.
These provisions apply to employees who fall within the Code’s definition of “worker”. That definition doesn’t cover people in managerial or administrative roles, or supervisory staff earning above ₹18,000 a month.
Why Qualcomm is restructuring
Qualcomm is under pressure in its core smartphone-chip business from slower consumer demand, rising component costs and lower revenue from some key customers. It’s increasing investment in AI infrastructure, data centres and automotive technology to diversify beyond smartphones.
