On 20/7, ASML confirmed to Reuters a plan to grant employees a stock bonus valued at 20,000 euro (22,800 USD) if they remain with the company from 2027 to 2030. ASML is finalizing this plan, which it will award to "all eligible employees", with bonus shares beginning payout from 1/1/2027.

ASML introduced this plan amid the AI surge, which drives demand for high-performance chips and chip manufacturing equipment. Investors view this initiative as ASML strengthening its workforce to meet the escalating demand for advanced chips.

ASML currently employs 44,500 people globally. Over half of these are in the Netherlands, with approximately 8,500 in the US. Eindhovens Dagblad reported that the company communicated this plan to all employees via email.

Employees at ASML's factory in Veldhoven, Netherlands in 6/2023. *Photo: Reuters*

ASML stands as Europe's most valuable company, boasting a market capitalization of nearly 700 billion USD. Fueled by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, ASML's stock has surged 60% since the start of the year.

This month, ASML reported a Q2 net profit of 2,92 billion euro and revenue of 9,3 billion euro. The company's lithography machines are nearly fully booked through the end of 2027. These results surpassed market forecasts.

Beyond ASML, several major semiconductor companies are also implementing employee retention policies. Samsung Electronics, TSMC, and SK Hynix previously announced large bonuses amid rising profits and a shortage of skilled labor.

According to Reuters last month, a Samsung memory chip production employee, earning a base salary of 80 million won (approximately 52,400 USD), could receive total bonuses of about 626 million won (410,000 USD) this year. SK Hynix employees could potentially receive over 700 million won (approximately 455,000 USD) in bonuses if the company achieves its expected annual profit of 250 trillion won.

Ha Thu (*Reuters*)