French oil major Total SA's (TOT) Secretary-General Jean-Jacques Guilbaud said Wednesday the company doesn't plan any layoffs at all as part of the restructuring of its refinery and petrochemical operations in France.
Total said Tuesday it plans to cut 249 jobs by 2013 at its refining operations in France but doesn't plan any layoffs. It also said it plans to cut 306 jobs at its petrochemical operations by 2012, without any planned layoffs.
Guilbaud said Wednesday that the job cuts will be made through attrition, with employees retiring or leaving through preretirement schemes or being transferred to other positions within the company.
Total said Tuesday that it is committed to finding appropriate solutions for the employees concerned "with an emphasis on internal placement."
Guilbaud said the plan is part of a EUR1 billion investment project that will create around 1,000 jobs per year on average between 2009 and 2011.
He also rejected unions' accusations that Total plans to drop refinery activities in France.