The fate of Australia’s 500 Motorola Inc employees in the wake of the company’s massive worldwide staff cutbacks (CI No 3,425) has yet to be decided. Ron Nissen, Motorola Australia’s managing director, has issued a statement saying that Australian and New Zealand business groups will be required to review business operations as part of the company’s 12-month restructure. An unnamed local Motorola spokesperson told The Australian newspaper that the global cuts were not likely to affect the Australian operation. It seems that Motorola’s new mobile phone manufacturing facilities in Asia are the most likely targets for closure, and the fall-out in Australia will depend on how much the local sales force relies on items produced in these plants.
