Delivery company DHL is halving the number of IT staff it employs and despatching the jobs to Prague in the Czech Republic.

DHL IT Services will cut 400 jobs across Europe and the UK. But at the same time it will add 200 people to its service centre in Prague. DHL opened its Czech data centre in 2003 and was mulling a full move of IT functions as long ago as 2004.

An internal email seen by The Register said the company would move hosting and support service, collaboration services, service desk workers and development services to the Czech capital.

The email, from MD of IT services at DHL Stephen McGuckin, said: "We will do our best to find new roles, both inside and outside the group, for those who choose not to transfer or do not have the opportunity to do so."

The company said it "will respect the consultation processes with the social partners on both the European and Country levels according to the legal requirements". It could not comment further while that consultation is going on.

European countries where jobs will be lost are: Austria; Belgium; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxemburg; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Slovakia; Slovenia; Sweden; Switzerland and the UK. ®

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