Avatel and unions agree to 383 forced job cuts

Avatel Telecom and unions agreed to 383 forced job cuts after negotiations over the company’s workforce reduction in Spain.

That is 61 fewer forced departures than Avatel first proposed, though the original total of 444 could still be reached if enough staff leave voluntarily.

Employees can apply for voluntary departures from November 11 to 15, and management will respond between November 16 and 18; it can reject applications.

The agreement sets compensation at 45 or 33 days of pay per year worked, depending on length of service, up to 24 monthly payments.

It also protects certain workers from forced dismissal, including people with cancer and victims of gender-based violence.

This is Avatel’s third workforce reduction in two years, following changes in 2024 and January 2026 that together removed 600 jobs.

The company says falling profitability and repayments of public broadband and 5G grants for unfinished projects contributed to the cuts, while union representatives also point to technological change and AI.