Ericsson Nigeria, as part of an offshoring program, has disengaged about 160 workers at its Network Operating Centre.

The mass retrenchment is reportedly a part of  program which requires the technology company to move jobs to India. In July, according to sources within the company, some workers at the firm also lost their jobs.

The present wave affects about 55 full-time workers, among about 100 other staff members, and will take effect on Sunday, 4th December 2016. The report states that knowledge transfer is also ongoing at the company’s offices in India.

Sources revealed that last year, in 2015, Indian nationals were brought into the country to study the management of telecommunications infrastructure in a bid to make the process as seamless as possible.

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In the letter of disengagement signed by Johan Jemdahi, the company’s Managing Director, employees were informed that their positions would become redundant effective Sunday, 4th December 2016 and benefits would be communicated to them before that date.

Sources within the company claimed that the jobs, which involve the management of MTN’s network, were offered to Indians at lower costs.

The Public Relations Manager in Sub-Saharan Africa for Ericsson, Toju Egbebi, who confirmed the development to Punch, said the move was part of the company’s global cost and efficiency programme to achieve a net annual cost savings of  nine billion Swedish Krona, or 306 billion Naira, adding that the programme would continue till 2017.