DIGICEL began cutting jobs yesterday, offering enhanced packages to its 1,170 Jamaican staff if they resign voluntarily.

The telecommunications provider said that under its voluntary separation programme (VSP), which is open for two weeks, permanent, temporary and part-time employees are eligible to receive enhanced packages based on years of service as well as extended health cover, pro rata bonuses and career change advisory sessions.

The move is aimed at driving efficiencies and maximising performance following the integration of the Jamaican Claro operations into the company, said Digicel, noting that the programme is being initiated as the company diversifies from being a pure mobile service provider into offering customers options that include 4G mobile, cloud computing and, soon, mobile financial services.

“With progress comes change — but our commitment to delivering an excellent service to our valued customers remains the same. Now is the time to review our operations to ensure we are well positioned to meet the opportunities that are ahead of us and that we have the right people with the right skills in the right jobs,” said Digicel Jamaica CEO, Mark Linehan in a press statement.

“Since launching here in Jamaica in 2001, our business has grown and developed hugely. From our origins as a pure mobile service provider, today we are evolving into a full service converged communications provider,” he added.

Digicel last year acquired the local Claro operations from Central American telecom giants, America Movil.

It is not the first time Digicel has offered staff members a VSP. It was first offered successfully to Digicel employees across the region in 2009, with the company at the time expecting approximately 10 per cent of its workforce across 23 markets to take up the offer.

The current VSP runs until Thursday, April 26.