Fujitsu Siemens plans 700 German job cuts

FRANKFURT: Fujitsu Siemens Computers said Friday it wants to cut around 700 jobs in Germany as the economic downturn deepens.

FSC, a joint venture between Fujitsu and Siemens, makes personal computers and laptops and currently employs about 6,000 people at 10 locations in Germany.

Spokeswoman Melanie Wolf said the company is in discussions with Germany's IG Metall union regarding the planned cuts. In Germany, such plans need to be cleared with employee representatives, who have seats on companies' supervisory boards.

Earlier this month, industrial conglomerate Siemens AG said it would sell its 50 percent stake in FSC to Fujitsu for euro450 million ($567 million).

The companies said the sale will go through on April 1 next year, subject to approval from government agencies.

Shares of Siemens were down 5.7 percent at euro46.48 ($59.49) in Frankfurt trading.