Telecom Fiji Limited plans to lay off an estimated 170 employees as part of its restructure program.

Post and Telecom Workers Union General Secretary Attar Singh confirmed that talks with the Telecom Management is now underway on the redundancy packages as they intend to reduce staff numbers.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Telecom Fiji said it will undergo a business restructure in response to the impact of the economic conditions on its business.

TFL confirms that the restructuring exercise will be undertaken swiftly and will result in some staff redundancies for roles that are no longer needed by the business. It said consultations with union representatives have commenced.

The Company said its new business structure is expected to be more responsive to the needs of its diverse customer base while reducing its cost structures, enabling it to compete in Fiji's telecommunication market and meet its stakeholder's obligations.