Apple, which survived a "wave of layoffs" in Silicon Valley last year, now has to take a new step in the face of the risk of an unstable macro environment.。

It is understood that Apple Inc. (Apple Inc.).) is cutting a handful of positions in its corporate retail team。The cuts are primarily in development and maintenance positions on the retail team, which are primarily responsible for the construction and maintenance of Apple's retail stores and other facilities around the world, according to people familiar with the matter.。

While the number of positions to be eliminated is uncertain and likely to be very small。But the move represents a new step for the world's most valuable company, as it is the first internal layoff information it has made public since it began tightening its belt last year.。

In fact, the iPhone maker has largely delayed the corporate layoffs, even as Apple has cut its budget from all angles and cut a large number of contract workers, including engineers, recruiters and security guards。But in the face of an unstable economy and a persistently sluggish consumer spending environment, the company still has to control costs through layoffs。

But Apple is positioning the cuts as streamlining jobs, not layoffs。The company told employees that the changes are aimed at improving the maintenance of retail stores worldwide and that the company will provide corresponding support to employees who are subject to layoffs.。

Apple is understood to have told these laid-off employees that they will be able to reapply for some positions similar to their previous jobs, and that employees who do not return to their new positions will also receive a large amount of compensation.。People familiar with the matter said those who do not take up new positions will receive up to four months of salary payments。

Some management roles are also being cancelled。People familiar with the matter said that while these employees could be rehired as so-called individual contributors, they may not have the same compensation。In a few cases, some employees can get waivers to continue working without having to reapply.。

During the pandemic, Apple did not expand its workforce as quickly as many large technology companies, reducing the need for mass layoffs。According to relevant data, as of the end of the third quarter of the last fiscal year, Apple had a total of 16.40,000 employees。But other Silicon Valley peers have had to make massive layoffs to cut costs because of a massive hiring campaign。Including Amazon Inc. (Amazon.com Inc.) and Alphabet Inc.Its peers, including Google, have cut tens of thousands of jobs.。