Telefonica to lay off up to 5,500 employees at a cost of EUR 2.5 bln

Telefonica has reached a deal with trade unions to cut around 5,500 jobs in Spain at an estimated cost of EUR 2.5 billion before taxes. The measure is part of the operator’s wider plan to reduce expenses and adapt its workforce to lower revenue growth and changing market conditions.

The layoffs will affect several units in the country and are structured as a voluntary redundancy plan, agreed with unions after negotiations. Telefonica expects the upfront cost to be partly offset over time by lower wage and operating expenses, though no detailed timeline for savings has been provided.