Johannesburg - Nokia Siemens Networks is slashing its local
workforce by 28%, Business Day reported on Wednesday.
The joint venture was cutting jobs as part of its global
strategy to reduce cost and focus on mobile broadband.
Nokia, once the world's dominant cellphone provider, was
also shedding jobs after losing the smartphone market to Apple and Samsung.
Nokia Siemens Networks' global restructuring included
cutting about 17 000 jobs from its 74 000-strong workforce.
In South Africa, 160 workers out of 570 would lose their
jobs.
According to trade union Solidarity, more than half of the
160 had accepted severance packages.
Rufus Andrew, managing director of Nokia Siemens SA, said
the restructuring was part of a global reduction process and "does not reflect
our business in South Africa".