Back in April, it was rumored that Sony – under significant financial duress – would soon lay off 10,000 workers, or about 6% of the company. Sony later confirmed the plans, noting that they anticipate hitting their goal by the end of 2012 “in a bit to regain global competitiveness.”
Today, Reuters has revealed that a phase of that plan is underway, though they’ve now pushed back the trimming of “its global headcount by 10,000 [workers]” to March of 2013.
The report notes that Sony will “cut staff” at its Gifu, Japan headquarters by one-fifth (or about 2,000 workers) and close factories dedicated to the creation of mobile phones and camera lenses. Additionally, 1,800 more workers will be lost at a “chemical business” that Sony unloaded to a Japanese bank.
Sony operations in Europe will also be affected. 2,000 workers are expected to lose their jobs there, “half at a joint mobile phone venture with Ericsson” that recently ran its course. To reach the 10,000 worker mark, “the remaining job losses will be at other factories around the world,” Reuters’ report states.
Predating Sony’s announcement of the massive restructuring, the company reported a loss of over $2 billion. Things are improving at Sony, however; while still in the red, the company only reported a $312 million loss in August, indicating that Sony’s serious financial wounds may be healing.
Indeed, Sony’s hope is to save $378.6 million a year by cutting these 10,000 jobs, indicating that, if the company reports a similar financial situation at the end of this quarter, they may be back in the black.
Our best go out to all affected by the layoffs.
Colin Moriarty is an IGN PlayStation editor. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN and learn just how sad the life of a New York Islanders and New York Jets fan can be.
Source : ign[dot]com
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