Fujitsu to lay off 1800 in ‘hammer blow’ to UK workforce

Japanese multinational Fujitsu has revealed plans to significantly reduce its UK workforce.

The electronics giant told staff it will cut as many as 1,800 jobs, with the first workers to leave in early 2017.

The company has however said the move is not linked to Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.

Further, Fujitsu said the cuts would be made across its UK offices as it looks to compete better with rival firms offering IT services more cheaply.

According to the BBC, Fujitsu said in a statement that it will launch a “transformation programme” enabling it to offer better customer support “in the era of digital transformation”.

The statement continued: “Fujitsu plans to streamline operations in order to remain competitive in the market.

“Proposed measures include changes which would result in a reduction of up to 1,800 jobs in the UK.”

A company spokesperson said the job cuts would be staggered across a 12- to 18-month period.

Trade unions have blasted the plans, calling the potential losses a “hammer blow” to the Japanese firm’s UK employees.

The Unite trade union’s Ian Tonks commented: “This is a hammer blow for these hardworking employees who have given their all to make the UK subsidiary highly profitable.

“It is not good news for the UK economy as the company says that it intends to offshore many of these jobs, with increased automation also responsible for job losses.”

Fujitsu currently employs 14k people in offices across the country, including sites in Manchester, Crewe, Warrington, Wakefield, Solihull, Bracknell and Belfast.

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