News

France Telecom CEO Didier Lombard met yesterday with the French minister for labour.



Under increasing pressure from the government, as well as from unions and the general public, France Telecom has agreed to take steps to address the rate of suicides amongst it staff.



Until a few days ago, the company asserted that the number of its staff taking their own lives was not unusual, statistically, given the number of overall staff. However, the overwhelming majority of the 23 France Telecom employees who have committed suicide in the past 18 months have left notes or letters which specifically mentioned pressures at the company.



France Telecom has cut 60,000 jobs since 1997 and has reassigned 70,000 people. The total staff today stands at around 100,000.



The French government, which remains the company's largest shareholder, with 27% of the capital, is keen to demonstrate concern for the problem, and the company has agreed to establish a telephone service for staff to receive counselling on a confidential basis.