Grab to absorb Uber’s employees in Southeast Asia

Singapore-based Grab will absorb all of Uber’s 500 plus employees across Southeast Asia following the acquisition of the latter’s regional operations. Uber’s staff have been placed on paid leave for the time being.

Grab will try to offer positions to all Uber staff in the region, according to a spokesman.

However, after news broke on Monday, a video had gone viral on social media claiming that Uber employees in Singapore were given two hours’ notice to pack up and leave the office.

In the video, staff were seen packing up their belongings and being told that they were “free to apply for other jobs”. Grab has since rejected the claims in the video and clarified that Uber employees are on paid leave.

NTUC assistant director-general Ang Hin Kee told TODAY that they tried to contact Uber on Monday to get more information but “all the phone lines, emails were out and we couldn’t get in touch with anybody”.

Ong Chin Yin, head of people at Grab released a statement that they are “committed to try and find a suitable role” for Uber employees and will be reaching out to everyone.

Grab held a townhall meeting on Tuesday for all affected employees at their various locations across the region.

The Singapore-headquartered firm also uploaded photos on their social media channels of new work spaces for Uber employees who were let go on Monday.

Ong told Channel NewsAsia that Grab will organise Uber employees into teams similar to when they were in Uber. All staff will also be offered “substantially similar packaged” terms.

For those who decline the offer, Grab will arrange a compensation package with them.