Alcatel-Lucent responds to reports on job cuts in India

Reacting to Monday's media reports that Alcatel-Lucent is planning to eliminate nearly 1,000 jobs in India as part of its global restructuring plan, the Paris-based company's Indian arm said that it has not finalised plans on where headcount reductions will occur around the world as part of its Performance Program.

The report, picked up by other news websites in India, said that Alcatel-Lucent will axe around 9 per cent of its 7,000 strong workforce in its business support functions and its managed services vertical, which maintains and manages Reliance Communications' (RCOM) countrywide CDMA and GSM networks and Bharti Airtel's landline and broadband networks. (See: Alcatel-Lucent to eliminate 1,000 jobs in India: report)

Alcatel-Lucent said it had announced in July that it would reduce its global headcount by around 5,000 people across all geographies, and it would not comment further until it has completed legally-required consultation with workers' representatives in a number countries where it is legally required to do so.

Alcatel-Lucent's full statement is reproduced below

''We were concerned to see stories in the press today saying that Alcatel-Lucent has plans to cut 1000 employees in India.  Alcatel-Lucent has made no announcements yet on where headcount reductions will occur around the world as part of The Performance Program.

"The only statement we have made on this topic is that issued on July 26th in which said that we would reduce our global headcount by around 5,000 people across all geographies. As said at the time we will not comment further until we have completed legally-required consultation with workers' representatives in a number countries where we are legally required to do so.

"India is an important research and development center and market for Alcatel-Lucent globally.  Our commitment to building India's broadband infrastructure remains unchanged.''