Helsinki, Nov 04: The world's leading maker of
mobile phones, Nokia of Finland, said on Tuesday it would cut
almost 600 jobs, mainly in its sales and marketing division.
"As a follow-up to Nokia's reorganisation in the
beginning of 2008, Nokia plans further changes in its sales
and marketing activities in the markets unit," it said in a
statement.
"Nokia estimates that approximately 450 employees,
maximum 100 in Finland, in the markets unit will be affected
by the planned changes," the company said, adding that another
130 employees at the Nokia Research Centre (NRC) would also
be affected.
A spokeswoman for the group, Arja Suominen, said the
job cuts would affect permament and not temporary employees,
but that the overall number of jobs cuts was an estimate.
She said the company would begin negotiations with the
unions and employee representatives, and "obviously the final
figures will only be known after that."
Nokia said the changes would be effective January 1,
2009.
The company also announced that it would close its
plant in Turku, in southwestern Finland, which employs 220
people and relocate its activities to the nearby town of Salo.
The closure will be finalised by the end of January
2009, and employees will be offered the possibility to work in
Salo or in the Helsinki area.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, November 04, 2008, 00:00