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Vodafone to axe 100 jobs at Hobart call centre

The Vodafone decision is a blow for the Tasmanian economy.

The Vodafone decision is a blow for the Tasmanian economy. Photo: ABC

Vodafone will axe 100 jobs at its Hobart call centre in a move the Tasmanian Premier has described as “devastating”.

The telco is holding talks with workers and has not confirmed the number detailed by Will Hodgman at a press conference this morning.

“I think this is a terrible blow for the people concerned; I can imagine that they will be devastated, their families extremely concerned, so we will do what we can to ensure that we support those people,” he said.

He said the Government was not aware it was going to happen and if funding agreements had been contravened the Government would ask for money to be returned.

“If we’re able to secure and reclaim anything that we are entitled to as a result of agreements being broken, then we will do that,” he said.

Vodafone has received both state and federal funding since setting up in Tasmania.

It has received payroll tax relief and a $3.2 million grant since promising to double its workforce.

In 2016, the Hobart call centre employed 850 people.

In a statement today the company said there had been a “dramatic reduction” in call volumes and complaints, with customers preferring to to use online self-services.

Vodafone will not comment further until after staff have been consulted.

“Our first priority is our staff and we will not comment on the details of those discussions until we have spoken to all teams this morning,” the statement said.

-ABC

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