AS Watson Powers Future Leaders, Recruits 134,000 Young People Worldwide

 AS Watson, the world's largest international health and beauty retailer, has reached a major milestone in its global youth employment pledge - recruiting 134,000 young people to date and delivering 3.8 million hours of training. This achievement marks more than halfway toward its goal of creating 200,000 opportunities by 2030.

Alongside job creation, AS Watson has invested heavily in training and development, delivering 3.8 million hours of learning to new joiners in their first year - meaning each young person receives on average 28 hours of learning. This initiative underscores the Group’s dedication to empowering young talent with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.

 

AS Watson launched the Pledge in 2022 to address the challenges young people face when entering the workforce. A lack of initial workplace experience and a disconnect between academic learning and practical skills often limit their employability. AS Watson is committed to helping them overcome these barriers by providing hands-on experience and practical skills training that bridge the gap between education and the workplace.

 

Empowering the Next Generation

Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson, said, “At AS Watson, we give young people more than a job - we give them belonging, purpose, and the tools to succeed.”

“When we invest in young people, we invest in the future of everything - our industry, our communities, and our world. That's the real purpose behind every opportunity we create."

 

In the Philippines, Watsons has been actively partnering with local communities and academic institutions to successfully drive youth programs welcoming approximately 850 interns and apprentices to date. These initiatives provide hands-on community pharmacy practice, real-world retail experience and robust corporate exposure with a high probability of full-time employment—reflecting Watsons’ unwavering commitment to creating meaningful opportunities and shaping the next generation of retail talent. 

 

Impact Beyond Numbers

Beyond offering first jobs, AS Watson's programme focuses on long-term career growth. It equips young employees with essential digital, customer service, and leadership skills. The Group continues to collaborate with educational institutions and NGOs to ensure inclusive access to career opportunities.

Looking ahead, AS Watson remains committed to:

● Reach 200,000 youth employment opportunities by 2030

● Expand training in digital skills and sustainability roles

● Drive innovation through technology and Generative Al in retail

 

To learn more about AS Watson’s youth employment initiatives and career opportunities, visit Join Us | AS Watson Group - A member of CK Hutchison Holdings

AS Watson, Watsons Philippines’ Parent Company, Celebrates World Pharmacists Day with Over 3,000 Pharmacists Driving Health and Wellness

 25 September is World Pharmacist Day, a global celebration honoring the vital role pharmacists play in promoting health and well-being.

 

“On this special day, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to more than 3,000 pharmacists and over 9,000 health professionals who work with AS Watson around the world, making our retail network a preferred destination for trusted health advice, health services and products,” said Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson. 

 

"Our pharmacists play a vital role in the shopping experience, offering the human interaction that instills confidence and reassurance in customers seeking health solutions," Malina continued. 

 

Based on the company’s global insights, customers who shop health and wellness products spend three times more than non-health shoppers. Notably, there’s a remarkable year-on-year growth of over 20% in the young customer segment seeking health products. While the vitamins and dietary supplements (VDS) sector alone has experienced over 10% sales growth, the increasing demand for medicated skincare solutions delivered over 20% growth. 

 

Malina explained how the company addresses the increasing customer needs in health, “We are witnessing sustainable growth in our health and wellness retail sales over multiple years. In response to this global demand, we expanded our health product range by nearly 20%.  Besides we have introduced new digital enabled services in many markets.”

 

Tech-empowered AS Watson International Pharmacist Network

Malina is excited to announce, “To mark the significance of our pharmacists and our commitment to empowering them to serve our customers to lead healthier lives, we are launching a global network app exclusively for the AS Watson International Pharmacists Network. The app serves as an exchange platform for our health professionals from around the world to acquire new knowledge, exchange best practices and to support each other across our markets.” 

 

Personalised O+O Health Services

AS Watson’s dedication extends beyond products, offering comprehensive integrated O+O health services, including consultations and health checks, facilitated by our global network of pharmacists. 

 

Convenient Access to Health Services

Watsons Philippines, a part of AS Watson, is committed to delivering convenient and reliable health services to customers. Watsons pharmacists are well-equipped to provide medication advice and ensure that both prescription and non-prescription medicines are available from a wide range of branded and generic options. Additionally, Watsons hastrained vaccine-administering pharmacists offering vaccines for flu, pneumonia, HPV, Hepatitis B, and shingles, helping tokeep the community safe from common preventable diseases. Consultation services, including free blood pressure monitoring, are always available to assist customers. 

 

Watsons also has the “Ask your Watsons pharmacist” campaign, where pharmacists create a series of relevant health content to educate customers on how to look good, do good and feel great. This initiative is part of the brand’s efforts to build credibility with customers and empower the communities served through health products and services. 

 

World Pharmacists Day is all about recognising beloved pharmacists and the vital role they play in strengthening communities. With the new global network app and expanded health services, Watsons aims to empower pharmacists even further in an effort to shape a healthier future for Filipinos and the rest of the region.