Feb 03, 2009. /Lesprom.com/. Finnish forest machinery and equipment manufacturer Ponsse Oyj has concluded personnel negotiations started in December 2008, the company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. The goal of the negotiations was to adjust the operations of Ponsse to the market situation and to enhance operations to ensure future competitiveness and profitability, the company said. On the basis of the negotiations, the number of personnel in Finland will be reduced by 158 employees from its current January 2009 level of approximately 650 employees. In addition, on the basis of negotiations, 29 persons can be laid off until further notice, and the whole personnel temporarily. Of the work relationships to be terminated, approximately 35 are temporary contracts and approximately 10 will be carried out according to pension schemes. The termination of work relationships will be implemented during February 2009, while other adjustments will be made during 2009 when needed. Employees who are made redundant and ones laid off until further notice, will be given transitional training in co-operation with Iisalmi labour force service centre. The Ponsse Group designs, manufactures, markets and services environmentally compatible forest machines for the cut-to-length method of mechanised logging as well as wood harvesting-related information technology.