Australia's second biggest telecommunications provider Optus is cutting 320 jobs in a number of divisions and says that more redundancies will take place in the next 12 months. However, the telco said it would also be adding 140 new roles.
The company's plans were to make cuts in its marketing, networks, IT, human resources, wholesale, satellite, corporate and small-to-medium size business divisions, a report in The Australian Financial Review says, quoting sources in the know.
The telco confirmed the cuts, with a spokesperson telling the AFR: "Since launching a new strategic direction just over two years ago, Optus has made a number of operational changes to reposition its business as a highly integrated, innovative, and content-driven multi-media brand."
"Today employees across the organisation were updated on the strategy. A number of employees were informed of changes to their individual reporting lines, and around 320 employees were advised that their roles have been made redundant.
{loadposition sam08}"We are working with employees who are affected by these changes, including looking at redeployment opportunities where possible."
And the spokesperson added: "Optus will continue to review its cost base and evolve the way we work.
"As a result, we anticipate that we will make a number of further structural changes to our business this financial year, which will result in further redundancies over the next 12 months."