Alcoa said that its Australian operations will not be affected by the company's global plans to cut more than 13,000 jobs.

Alcoa has announced plans to cut 13% of its global work force sell 4 business units and cut output to cope with the economic downturn. It is also cutting 1,700 contractor positions and freezing salaries in order to reduce the number of employees by the end of 2009.

Alcoa of Australia has already suspended expansion work on Western Australia's Wagerup refinery, reduced the number of its contractors, frozen salaries and restricted travel.

Meanwhile, Mr Alan Cransberg MD of Alcoa said that it has no plans at this stage to reduce its current Australian work force.

(Sourced from www.abc.net.au)