Samsung Electronics plans to cut up to 10% of its workforce outside of South Korea, resulting in thousands of layoffs, Bloomberg reports.

According to the agency, the cuts will primarily affect the company's divisions in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

The number of workers laid off in each division will vary, but in some cases it will reach 10% of the workforce. There will be no layoffs in South Korea, which is largely due to the recent escalation of the company's conflicts with the union.

Samsung Electronics employs more than 267,800 people worldwide, more than half of whom (about 147,000) live outside of South Korea. At least in Singapore, measures aimed at reducing Samsung's workforce will definitely be implemented, reports Bloomberg.

The representatives of the company explained that the reductions will be made within the framework of optimization of the organizational structure. The company recently cut staff in India and some Latin American countries, where 10% of the total workforce was also cut.

According to the agency, the new round of layoffs is likely to leave less than 10% of Samsung employees who live outside of South Korea out of a job. Priority will be given to retaining production-related professionals.