The company said the decision to halt all restructuring was taken in consultation with the unions, which have blamed the suicides largely on restructuring and work pressure. Last month, the company froze hundreds of compulsory internal transfers pertaining to roles and locations.

Under pressure from the government, the company has introduced measures to monitor and counsel staff through 100 additional human resources advisers, and increased medical and social assistance. Earlier this week, it circulated questionnaires on work conditions and stress among its 102,000 employees.

The former state-run monopoly has cut nearly 22,000 people during 2006 and 2008. The firm has earlier announced plans to cut costs by E1.7 billion ($2.54 billion) through 2011, with 32% of the amount coming from France. Under its Orange 2012 strategy, it has been capitalizing on synergies available across the group to complete the roll-out of the integrated operator model.

France Telecom reported a 2.6% decline in revenue to E12.6 billion ($16.4 billion) in the first quarter. While revenue from France grew 2% to E5.9 billion ($7.6 billion), revenue from the rest of the world rose 5.1% to E2.02 billion ($2.63 billion). Revenue from the UK, Poland, and Spain declined.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.