Hutchison Telecommunications to lay off over 1,000 staff worldwide

Asian Economic News, Jan 10, 2005

HONG KONG, Jan. 5 Kyodo

Hong Kong-based telecom giant Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd. will lay off around 1,160 employees worldwide, including 750 in Hong Kong, the company said Wednesday.

Around 270 of the positions have become redundant, the company said in a statement. Another 480 will either be switched to contract staff or deployed to other companies or departments in the Hutchison group.

The reduction is expected to save HK$300 million (around $38.5 million) for the group, it said.

Hutchison Telecommunications is the largest mobile operator in Hong Kong with 1.9 million subscribers.

Legislator and unionist Lee Cheuk-yan criticized the layoffs.

''They use this as an excuse to turn permanent staff into contract-based (workers),'' Lee said.