HP to shed 5,900 jobs in Europe

PARIS -- Hewlett-Packard Co. is cutting 5,900 jobs in Europe as part of its global restructuring plan detailed in July, the maker of computers and printers said yesterday.

HP did not say how many of the cuts would be voluntary or give a breakdown of the number of jobs to be shed in each country. HP's European spokeswoman, Anette Nachbar, said the company was under a legal obligation in many countries to inform workers' representatives before disclosing the cuts.

''The local consultation processes are still ongoing," Nachbar said. She confirmed that the 5,900 European layoffs are part of a plan unveiled in July to cut 14,500 jobs worldwide and overhaul HP's retirement plan in order to save $1.9 billion a year.

HP France, the French arm of the company, confirmed that 1,240 jobs will be shed in France, where the company employs about 4,800 workers.

Germany's IG Metall trade union said HP had not yet notified staff representatives of any job cuts there but that an announcement on possible reductions was expected this week.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based HP employs about 44,000 workers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, but Nachbar said the company does not disclose the numbers of people it employs in individual countries.

HP is fighting to stay competitive with formidable rivals like International Business Machines Corp. in the high-end market and Dell Inc. in budget PCs.

In disclosing the French job cuts, HP France said the layoffs had been decided ''to safeguard the future" of the company.