Amazon shake-up puts jobs on line

ONLINE retailer Amazon.com plans to cut jobs in France, and move some of them to the Britain as it reorganises its global business.

Under the plan, an unspecified number of jobs will go from its office at Guyancourt, near Versailles, with some staff offered relocation to the UK.

The Seattle-based company, the world's biggest non-auction internet retailer, said it will centralise functions such as finance and website development in the US and Britain.

'Like all companies, we are looking for ways to make the business more efficient,' said spokeswoman Patty Smith.

The company, which has 8,100 staff worldwide, is working with unions to determine how many workers will lose their jobs and how many will relocate. The process is expected to take a couple of months.

Smith said the lay-offs are part of overall cost cuts the company has been undertaking for about a year, so it can offer customers lower prices and perks like free shipping on some orders.