SingTel – BT

Optus to slash 750 jobs for greater efficiencies

Most of the affected are managers and operations, support, back-office staff

SINGAPORE Telecommunications' Australian unit, Optus, will lay off 750 people, slashing almost 8 per cent of its workforce in a restructuring exercise.

In a statement yesterday, Optus said that the new structure is designed to drive greater efficiencies and give customers a stronger voice.

The retrenchments will mean slashing one out of every 12 Optus jobs. At end-2011, Optus employed about 9,700 people.

Telcos around the world have been rationalising their operations. In December, Optus's Australian rival, Telstra, cut 280 jobs.