Accenture Manila has announced that the Philippine office has to lay off more than 500 employees in different divisions (mostly Solutions).

It appears that Accenture has over-hired workers for projects that have been canceled, discontinued or put on hold. The news came in the morning of January 15, 2009 where employees were asked to report to the Manila office in batches only to be presented with a severance package and walking papers.

Accenture has over 16,000 employees in the Philippines and is expected to lay off several more people.