ISS Group downsizing operations

A global provider of facility services is shedding its operations in 13 countries including the Philippines, where it has about 9,500 employees, in a push to focus on its core business.

Denmark-based ISS Group or International Service Systems Inc. said in a statement it wanted organic growth to hit between 4 percent and 6 percent yearly by adopting a strategy of accelerating its transition toward key account customers.

ISS said the exit from noncore services would involve divesting business units across the group, including those in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Brazil, Chile, Israel, Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania.

Such move will shave off half of ISS’ customer base from 125,300 to 62,700, and one-fifth of its employees worldwide from 490,000 to about 390,000.

In the Philippines, ISS started its operation in August 2006 through the acquisition of an existing service provider. with over 20 years of experience.

The Philippines was the 47th country in the world and the 10th in Asia where ISS established presence. As of 2017, ISS had about 9,500 employees assigned to different sites and projects all over the country.

ISS offerings include cleaning services, support services, property services, catering services, security services and facility management services.

“When the time comes, it will be tough to part ways with many outstanding colleagues and high-quality businesses,” ISS Group chief executive Jeff Gravenhorst said.