BT set to shed 10,000 workers

Telecoms giant BT is cutting 10,000 jobs, mainly among its agency workers and sub- contractors, the firm has said. The company has already cut some 4,000 jobs, leaving a further 6,000 to go between now and March. The plans are all part of an "on-going efficiency programme". BT said it was reducing its dependence on consultants and contractors, cutting those jobs by 12% - direct staff numbers will come down by around 4%. BT, which has a global workforce of 160,000, said it will achieve the reduction in its direct staff largely through natural turnover. It has pointed out that reductions in previous years have been through various voluntary schemes. Around 90,000 direct jobs are based in the UK, whereas contractors and agency workers are spread between this country and many other parts of the world.