Alex Omenye
Two weeks after an internal memo revealed payroll issues, Copia Global, a leading B2C e-commerce platform, has laid off at least 1,060 employees, raising concerns about a potential shutdown or significant downsizing.
In a 20-minute staff meeting on Thursday, Copia CEO Tim Steel, along with newly appointed administrators, instructed employees to return company property, including laptops and tablets, and sign their termination letters by Friday, June 7th. While Steel declined to comment further, he promised to provide additional information on Friday.
Despite agreeing to pay a one-month salary and other benefits, such as accrued unpaid leave days, in compliance with Kenyan labor laws, administrators have not specified a payment timeline. This uncertainty has heightened employee anxiety, especially after May salaries were delayed and only disbursed this week.
Two employees told TechCabal they would not sign their termination letters until Copia clarifies the payment schedule for their compensation and benefits.
An ex-employee revealed that Copia’s financial troubles began in 2022, leading to scaled-back operations. The company exited Uganda less than two years after launching and laid off 700 employees.
Earlier this week, Copia halted orders from six key locations in Kenya, including Embu and Eldoret, likely to cut expenses. Employees in these areas were asked to take leave. At its peak, Copia boasted a network of 50,000 agents serving rural Kenya.
A leaked internal memo dated May 16 warned employees that the company might either shut down or restructure, involving the layoff of 1,060 employees.
