Finnish defence cutting civilian jobs

HELSINKI, Finland, June 6 (UPI) -- Finland has announced a six percent reduction of its work force in jobs targeted for elimination as part of a larger downsizing to save money.

The 126 defense staff posts will be eliminated next year, it said. Another 38 workers could also be eliminated.

Almost all of the 126 posts are civilian staff positions. Four non-commissioned officers will also be terminated following their declining of transfers to other parts of the country.

The Defense Force said 2,100 defense posts will eventually be eliminated -- 1,430 are civilians, while 670 will be military staff.

"We are being threatened with a resources shortage in our core activity, which is providing combat-ready troops," General Ari Puheloinen.

He said the planned staff cuts will hopefully save the military about $122.5 million a year, while other cutbacks will contribute to an overall savings of about $340 million annually.

Other areas that are feeling the effects of belt-tightening include refresher training and all-terrain training days for conscripts.