Nokia is planning to relocate basic assembly work for its mobile telephones from its factory in Salo in the southwest of Finland to Korea.
The move is not leading to job cuts in Salo. Workers in Salo now dealing with the front end of assembly will focus on the end stages, in which assembled phones are fine-tuned for operator customers.
"This is work which needs to be done near the customers, and with a short delivery time. The early stages of assembly can be done elsewhere", Nokia explains.
Nokia has been searching for new personnel for its Salo factory since the spring.
The number of employees at the Salo factory has grown by 300 since early June to about 2,600. According to the company, the factory would have needed nearly 400 employees more than it has.
"There simply are not enough workers in the Salo region. Labour is available in Korea", Nokia says.
The changes in the tasks that the employees are to perform means that Nokia will hold discussions with staff on the matter. The terms of employment will remain unchanged.
