IBM workers in the US and Canada who have recently been made
redundant are being offered jobs in lower-wage locations such as
India, China, Brazil and Eastern Europe.
The company
announced the loss of thousands of jobs last week, and those
affected are being offered a place in IBM's new
Project Match programme, which helps ex-employees to relocate
to IBM's low-cost operation countries.
"The potential for developing career and new business skills by
living and working abroad has been communicated to employees," said
an internal IBM notice.
IBM said wages paid to those moving would be the same as much
lower local rates. It believes many may be tempted because they
wanted "life experiences".
The IBM staff union slammed the offer, saying that not only were
jobs being shipped overseas, but Big Blue was trying to export the
people for peanuts too.