BRUSSELS (AFP) – A Belgian subsidiary of US medical supplies group Johnson & Johnson is to cut nearly 700 jobs at two sites in the north of the country, company and union officials said Tuesday.

The job cuts at Janssen Pharmaceutica will allow the company to focus on research and development by outsourcing administrative and maintenance activities, a spokesman said.

A union official said that no strike was planned for the time being and that unions would make proposals for as many of the job cuts as possible to come from early retirement and redeployments.

Johnson & Johnson announced plans at the end of July to cut between 3,615 and 4,820 jobs worldwide to reduce costs in its pharmaceuticals business.

[Copyright AFP 2007]

Subject: Belgian news