Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Finland
Region
Manner-Suomi;
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Information / Communication
Computer Programming, Consultancy And Related Activities
Computer Programming, Consultancy And Related Activities
62.0 - Computer programming, consultancy and related activities

570 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
9 May 2012
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date

Description

Information technology consultancy Accenture has announced that it is reducing its workforce in Finland by about 570 persons. The company has started negotiations for laying off 250 persons, while another 320 are expected to leave after accepting a departure package. There is currently no timeline for the restructuring.

Accenture's decision to cut jobs in Finland follows its agreement with mobile phone maker Nokia in 2011 to take on 1200 employees cut by Nokia. These employees were previously involved in developing Nokia's Symbian operating system, which Nokia decided to substitute with Windows Phone. Accenture reports that it has placed about 500 of those employees into Windows-related development and offered departure packages to the rest.

Union representatives have criticised the way the Nokia-Accenture's deal has been carried out. In their view, redundancies were to be expected anyway as Symbian development is ultimately phased out. Outsourcing to Accenture was therefore simply a postponement of redundancies.

As reported, Finland has applied for assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF).


Sources

  • 9 May 2012: Helsingin Sanomat
  • 31 October 2012: Taloussanomat
  • 9 May 2012: Digitoday

Citation

Eurofound (2012), Accenture, Internal restructuring in Finland, factsheet number 73614, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/73614.