Officeworks is set to offshore hundreds of white-collar jobs to India and the Philippines, which employees believe is a strategy to cut labor costs. The Australian office products retailer will replace its Sydney-based customer service staff with a call center in the Philippines. Employees have expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the move undermines local customer service and morale. An internal employee noted that long-tenured staff were dismissed without proper acknowledgment. While Officeworks maintains that the majority of jobs will remain in Australia, the shift to 'global capability centres' has raised concerns. Retail expert Lisa Asher criticized the decision as a short-term fix that could harm long-term employment prospects in Australia. Despite the parent company Wesfarmers showing a strong financial position, Officeworks has been underperforming and requires a strategic shift. NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos described the decision as disappointing, emphasizing the need for Officeworks to clarify its rationale.