05 July 2012
Sanofi is expected to announce a massive job cut tonight.
This was anticipated by an article in the French newspaper le Figaro, according to which the pharmaceutical giant from across the Alps intends to eliminate between 1,000 and 2,000 jobs in France.
The layoffs will affect employees in research, vaccine manufacturing and support services such as purchasing and accounting.
It is not the first time that Sanofi cuts in its own country: between 2009 and 2011 it has in fact sent home almost 4,000 employees.
According to Reuters, which instead quotes a union source, the pharmaceutical company is planning to eliminate an unspecified number of jobs in the research sector of the Toulouse and Montpellier sites.
The layoffs will take place through incentivized redundancies, early retirements and internal mobility. Sanofi's goal is to concentrate research and administrative operations in Paris and Lyon.
According to the newspaper, however, a final decision will only be made around September.
Also today, the group announced the sale of the stake (equal to 19.3% of the capital) held in Yves Rocher to the Rocher family who, starting from the third quarter, will control more than 95% of the company. The purpose of this operation, Sanofi explained, is to concentrate on 'core' activities.
