LONDON: The BBC said Wednesday it has invited staff to apply for voluntary redundancy as the broadcaster seeks £125 million ($156 million, 140 million euros) in savings due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The cuts, which the broadcaster described in a statement as "necessary", would be put in place in the current financial year to March 2021.
"The impact of the coronavirus pandemic means the BBC needs to make £125 million of savings this financial year, in addition to the considerable efficiency savings the Corporation had previously committed to and planned for," it said.
"The BBC is therefore inviting public service staff to express an interest in voluntary redundancy."
It did not say how many jobs could be lost but the broadcaster currently employs more than 22,000 people.
A plan, announced in January, to cull 450 jobs in the BBC News department as part of a multi-million pound savings drive, was suspended in March because of the demands of covering the pandemic.
The announcement comes just weeks after a new director-general, Tim Davie, was appointed at a critical time for the BBC.
It has come under continual pressure over its main source of funding, the licence fee paid by the public.
This is an annual charge of £157.50 for those in the UK with colour televisions - £53 for anyone with a black and white set. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has said it is considering decriminalising non-payment of the licence fee, which can lead to a £1,000 fine.-AFP
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