HUNDREDS of Brintons employees face a period of uncertainty after company bosses warned them job cuts were likely as the business takes action to prune costs to improve profitability.

Workers were told on Tuesday that job losses were expected as part of a wide-ranging package of measures being taken by Brintons to stem recent losses.

They included seeking to keep levels of any future wage settlements as low as possible to minimise additional costs.

The warnings followed what the firm's bosses described as a "complete review" of the company, with a view to consolidating operations on fewer sites.

Factors blamed for the bleak outlook on jobs and wage increases included manpower levels being too high, particularly in the UK.

Workers were also told wage negotiations worldwide would seek to "minimise any additional costs, to protect jobs".

The company's group finance director and company secretary, Eddie Gardiner, said: "Obviously, we're intending to reduce numbers," adding: "The higher the cost of a wage settlement, the more risk there is to jobs. I suppose that's the message."

The moves also have implications for employees at Brintons-owned Woodward Grosvenor.

Mr Gardiner explained: "We believe the (Woodward Grosvenor) brand has value and it will continue to be a separate selling entity."

He added: "It's just that where Brintons and where Woodward Grosvenor have duplicated support activities, then we will look at them and provide the services from a reduced support function, where there is any overlap."

He went on: "It is likely to lead to jobs going there."

Brintons employs 750 people in the Wyre Forest district and 230 at Telford. Woodward Grosvenor, in Green Street, Kidderminster, has 71 employees.

The ramifications of Brintons' announcement are global, with the company ending manufacture of its products in both the United States and New Zealand.

Mr Gardiner said the sale of the firm's Christchurch-based New Zealand yarn mill - which was already under way - marked "the end" of Brintons' manufacturing operations in that country.

Meanwhile, the company's manufacturing plant in Greenville, Mississippi is also being closed.

Brintons has recently been working a four-day week at Kidderminster and shedding short-term contract employees at Telford.

Capital expenditure by Brintons was facing "severe constraints", the company stated, although Mr Gardiner said: "Where we see a need and it's justifiable, we will invest but it will be a lot less than the significant sums we have spent over the last 10 years."