Finnish Government Criticizes Microsoft For Job Cuts, 'Broken Promises' (softpedia.com)

jones_supa writes: Softpedia reports: "Microsoft has recently announced a new round of job layoffs at its Mobile unit in Finland, as it moves forward with its restructuring and reorganization plan following the acquisition of Nokia's Devices and Services unit. The Finnish government has criticized Microsoft for turning to more job cuts in the country, pointing out that the company has a huge responsibility to help those who are being let go. Microsoft's latest job cut round included 1,850 people, 1,350 of which are said to be working in Finland. 'I am disappointed because of the (initial) promises made by Microsoft,' Finance Minister Alexander Stubb was quoted as saying by Reuters. 'One example is that the data center did not materialize despite the company's promise.'" He refers to Microsoft's promise in 2013 to invest $250 million in a data center located in Finland that was specifically meant to provide services to European customers. All of these worries are not unfounded as the employment situation in Finland is still quite terrible, and the decline of Nokia's former phone business certainly exacerbates the situation.

Comments

Finland, Microsoft

[nikostheater]

I have zero sympathy for Finland. Zero. The way they treated and continue to treat Greece and the European south in general is despicable. They deserve the worst. They made their bed with Microsoft let them lie on it.

Re:Finland, Microsoft

[nikostheater]

The way they treated and continue to treat Greece and the European south in general is despicable.

What the heck is that supposed to mean?!

So the Greeks and others in the south of Europe collectively borrowed a huge amount of money to fund an unsustainable way of life built around not paying taxes, barely working, and retiring early.

Then when it comes time to repay those loans they find that they can't. After all, you typically have to do this little thing called work in order to generate the wealth necessary to repay loans.

And now the countries that initially loaned the money should just let Greece and the others off the hook?

That would be irresponsible!

I suppose you were hiding under a rock all these years? It's the only excuse for your ignorant comment about what's happening more than 6 years now here. We work and a lot harder and longer hours than the Germans for example. And for much less wage (for the people that still have jobs).With the stupid and criminal austerity policies (that Finland along with others insisted) the economy tanked,the unemployment soared ,the country destroyed. So,if they really wanted their money back, they could just designed a program that would generated growth and jobs. They didn't do that though,they did the opposite. Not to mention,as even the Handesblatt wrote a few weeks ago,the "bailouts" wasn't a rescue for Greece at all:It was a rescue for the incompetent German and French banks. It seems that the Euro (and austerity policies) are wrong even for Finland as it is obvious from it's economic performance lately. They can blame Microsoft,Russia,Amazon all they want. They should blame themselves and get down from their high horse. I will not shed a tear for them. They can rot for all i care for the destruction they caused to my country and to other countries in the crisis hit regions.