<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Amazon aims to shed more than 18,000 roles as it cuts costs, the technology giant's boss says.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Affected workers will be informed from 18 January, chief executive Andy Jassy said in a note to staff.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The cuts amount to around 6% of the firm's roughly 300,000-strong corporate workforce.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In November Amazon said it was starting a round of layoffs but did not give a figure of how many jobs it would cut.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We are working to support those who are affected and are providing packages that include a separation payment, transitional health insurance benefits, and external job placement support," Mr Jassy said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He added: "Amazon has weathered uncertain and difficult economies in the past, and we will continue to do so."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr Jassy did not specify where affected employees were located, but he said the firm would communicate with organisations that represent employees "where applicable in Europe".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also said the "majority of role eliminations" would be in the Amazon Stores operations and its People, Experience, and Technology team.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two months ago the firm said it would focus on reducing expenses in its annual review of business operations.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Amazon had already introduced a hiring freeze and halted some of its warehouse expansions, warning it had over-hired during the pandemic.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It has also taken steps to shut some parts of its business, cancelling projects such as a personal delivery robot. BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>