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Malaysia’s Media Prima announces significant job cuts

Malaysian media conglomerate Media Prima Berhad has announced a “manpower rationalisation” exercise. In an announcement on its site, the group said: “Media Prima will proceed with its manpower rationalisation exercise as part of the next phase of its business transformation exercise announced on  November 1 2019.”

Media reports indicate that 543 employees in the New Straits Times Press Group will be affected by the redundancies.  

This includes staff from English daily New Straits Times, Malaysian paper Berita Harian and the tabloid Harian Metro. 

The troubles facing Media Prima come close on the heels of the closure of Utusan Malaysia, among the country’s oldest papers.

In a statement detailing the redundancies, Media Prima said: “The new operating structure and list of affected employees have been determined after several consultations with the Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad Employees Union, TV3 Executive Union, National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia, and National Union of Newspaper Workers. 

“Compensation payments will be made in full upon completion of internal and regulatory processes.

“The Group has ensured a fair and equitable compensation governed by the Employment Act, the respective union collective agreements and employment contracts. The Group will additionally provide support which includes job outplacement services and career counselling.

“The next phase of Media Prima’s business transformation exercise will include changes to the Group’s business model and internal organisation structure. This is to enable the Group to be future-proofed and sustainable given the uncertain macroeconomic conditions and disruptive changes in the global and local media sector.”

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