Nestle says to cut up to 500 IT jobs in Switzerland

GENEVA - Global food giant Nestle said Tuesday it plans to cut as many as 500 computer-service jobs in Switzerland as part of a restructuring plan to increase profitability.

The Swiss-based company said in a press release it will outsource the IT jobs to Spain.

The company said also that its coffee unit, Nespresso, is also moving Swiss jobs to Spain and Portugal.

This move will impact an additional 80 employees, although the people affected by this reorganization will be offered jobs in the new locations

"We understand that this a difficult time for our employees," said Peter Vogt, head of Nestle's Human Resources.

The cuts will be implemented over the next 18 months.

"Nestle remains fully committed to its home base in Switzerland. The relationship between Nestle and Switzerland is mutually beneficial," Vogt said.

The plans do not affect any of the company's production sites in Switzerland, said Nestle.

The company said Nestle employees in Switzerland rose from around 6,700 in 2003 to over 10,100 in 2017.

"The company has made several important investments in this country over the past years. Nestle is currently strengthening its research entities in Lausanne, which is the focal point of its global research and development activities," Nestle said.