New Delhi, April 27 (PTI): Nokia, the world’s largest cellphone maker, today said up to 300 jobs would be cut in India by the end of 2012 as part of the company’s restructuring programme that would affect 7,000 employees worldwide.

The Finnish entity would be laying off 4,000 people globally, while 3,000 jobs would be moved to US major Accenture that would take care of Nokia’s Symbian software activities.

“With the restructuring, up to 300 jobs in the R&D segment will be cut in India by the end of 2012. The layoffs will be minimal,” a Nokia spokesperson said. Without disclosing further details, the official said most of the people working on Symbian would be transferred to Accenture.

Sources said about 800-900 jobs were likely to be affected in India in the R&D (research and development) segment.

Nokia’s India operations have a total workforce of about 10,000. Of them, around 1,500 employees are in the R&D section.

The Finnish firm in a statement today announced plans to align its global workforce and consolidate site operations, which would result in cost reductions of 1 billion euro.

Nokia plans to enter into a strategic collaboration with Accenture, whereby it would transfer its Symbian software activities as well as about 3,000 employees to the firm.

“Transitioning employees, located in China, Finland, India, the UK and the US will initially work on the Symbian software activities for Nokia,” it said.

Over time, Accenture and Nokia would seek opportunities to retrain and redeploy the transitioned employees.

All the employees affected by the reduction plans would remain on the Nokia payroll till the end of 2011.