BT to slash 2,000 BPO jobs in India

British telecom giant BT's plans to cut 2,000 call centre jobs in India to provide permanent positions for UK staff during the recession have taken a major hit, over worries whether British workers would put in the stifling hours.

Keeping the recession in mind BT, which had moved 5,500 call centre jobs to India in 2003, had said that it was preparing to repatriate the jobs.

However, following reports that the types of jobs to be brought back home could require staff to work weekend shifts and up until 11pm at night, communications workers union has said that it will be unfair for call centre operators to work for the hours, particularly for those with families, The Telegraph reports.

The company had no such issues with Indian employees, despite the fact that India is 4.5 hours ahead of the UK, which meant that late shifts pushed till 3.30am local time.

"We have been in discussion with the communication workers union in order to gain their support to begin a process of seeking as far as possible to reflect the hours currently undertaken by our partners outside the UK," a BT spokesman said.