World’s largest retailer and a cornerstone of American commerce, Walmart is set to lay off around 1,500 employees as part of an internal restructuring effort aimed at cutting costs and streamlining decision-making, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
The layoffs are expected to impact corporate staff at the company’s Bentonville, Arkansas headquarters, as well as employees in other offices. Among those affected are roles within Walmart’s global technology team, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The announcement has reignited debate around the H1B visa program, with critics accusing Walmart of favoring foreign labor at the expense of American workers.
The H1B visa allows skilled foreign professionals to work legally in the U.S., with a significant number of these roles in the tech sector being filled by Indian nationals.
Critics argue that companies exploit the program to replace domestic employees with cheaper labor, sometimes moving operations offshore after bringing in temporary visa holders.
Social Media Backlash
On social media platform X, user Barbara Grant posted:
“Oh, guess what? The large layoffs today at Walmart… are from its technology team. You know, the kind of US worker who’s replaced by H1B.”
Another user added:
“There should be strict rules — no citizen is laid off until all visa workers are let go. H1B or any visa was brought in to fill the gap, not to replace Americans.”
The sentiment extended beyond social platforms. On TheLayoff.com, one user claimed that walking into Walmart’s David Glass Technology Center “feels like stepping off a plane in India,” adding, “They don’t even have the common respect to speak English while at the office.”
However, not everyone agrees with the criticism. One commenter pushed back:
“Stop hating H1B people folks — No new H1B hires in Sunnyvale since 2024. The main issue isn’t H1B, but outsourcing. It’s US companies outsourcing for cheaper labor that’s impacting jobs, not the visa holders.”
Another downvoted comment read:
“There’s no reason to resort to racism. If you’re looking for someone to hold accountable, consider Trump — these layoffs are a result of the tariffs.”
Some even noted that Indian H1B workers themselves were among those affected by the layoffs.
While Walmart has not publicly tied the layoffs to immigration or outsourcing, the controversy reflects growing anxieties in the U.S. over job security in tech, global competition, and corporate decision-making.
The backlash highlights a broader cultural and economic tension that goes far beyond Walmart — raising tough questions about fairness, globalization, and who really benefits when companies restructure.
(MSN)
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then