Western Digital Cutting Jobs in Singapore

Western Digital Corp. said it will cut 2,500 jobs in Singapore by the end of 1999 and move some operations to Malaysia, where labor costs are lower. About 325 employees were laid off Friday, and the next cut will be made in early October, a spokesman for the Irvine-based disk drive maker said. The move to Malaysia should be completed by September and will reduce staff strength in Singapore to 1,700 employees.