Students at the University of Ghana have expressed worry following Nestlé’s announcement to cut 16,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years.
The Swiss food giant — known for household brands such as Milo and Nescafé— revealed the move as part of a sweeping restructuring effort under its new Chief Executive Officer, Philipp Navratil. He described the job cuts as “hard but necessary” to reduce headcount and help the company adapt to changing global conditions.
Speaking to Univers News, some students expressed sympathy for those who will lose their jobs, while others said the development underscores the importance of innovation and adaptability in today’s job market, sparking conversations about job security, economic hardship, and the realities of today’s employment landscape.
“I think the company’s decision is not right,” one student told Univers News. “Because after all those people leave their jobs, where are they going to go? 16,000 plus, where are they going to go? Because the economy is being hard, students graduating, and all those people don’t even have jobs to begin with. So the company’s decision, I feel, it’s not right.”
Another student echoed similar sentiments, saying, “I don’t agree because those 16,000 people that they are laying off, what would they come and do when they get home? So it’s not a good idea.”
While some students criticized the company’s approach, others viewed it as a reflection of the difficult choices businesses face in a volatile economy.
“I think for that it’s up to what Nestlé Ghana is capable of,” a student said. “So the best they can do is to work with the resources or the assets that they have. If they can’t take care of their workers, it’s not up to them to create more opportunities for themselves. That’s how the business world is.”
For some, the move also raised concerns about the broader implications for livelihoods and economic stability.
“So I think that they should structure it well because taking those jobs from them will hurt people,” another student remarked. “It’s better for them to be in the job structure. At least they get something to use.”
Nestlé has not yet specified how the job cuts will affect its operations, especially in Ghana, but worry and fear fill the air as workers wait for further updates on the matter.
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Story by Bryan Denzel Aryeetey | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
