Paris magistrate to probe France Telecom suicides

PARIS, FRANCE: An investigating magistrate has launched a probe into a succession of suicides at France Telecom  and would investigate whether staff had suffered "morale harassment", it said on Friday.

A statement from the Paris magistrate gave no further details about the probe, and France Telecom had no immediate comment when contacted by Reuters.

Last month, the French telecoms operator unveiled a series of measures to improve staff morale following a string of highly publicised suicides that have raised concerns among politicians.

The company, which is still 27 percent-owned by the French state, has been struggling to shed its public service heritage and adopt a more profit-oriented attitude which has led to staff cuts and longer working hours.

A report by the French Work Inspection body concluded earlier this year that France Telecom executives had used "pathogenic" management methods to reach their target of 22,000 staff cuts.