Itouch restructuring to result in job losses

Mobile phone information group iTouch is planning a number of redundancies as part of a restructuring, ireland.comhas learned.

The group, which is 50-per cent owned by Independent News & Media, is streamlining its technological operations to cut costs.

It is understood the company may seek as many 12 redundancies from it's Dublin operation which currently employs 35 people.

A spokesman for the company said the reductions were an unfortunate consequence of a shift in emphasis worldwide.

But the chief financial officer of iTouch PLC Mr John Miller rejected speculation that the restructuring would result in large-scale redundancies.

Mr Miller said the company was seeking to "rationalise its technology platform" - which would result in a small reduction in the group's global workforce.

Most of the redundancies would come from the group's technology hub in South Africa, he said, adding the exact number of redundancies was to be determined.

ITouch debuted on the London Stock Exchange two years ago and has operations in the Republic, Britain, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing about 380 people.