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GM's Opel unit considering 30-hour week-sources

FRANKFURT, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Opel, the German unit of the world's biggest carmaker, General Motors , is considering reducing its working week to 30 hours in a bid to cut costs and secure jobs, company sources said on Tuesday.

Opel, which is in the middle of a turnaround plan aimed at returning it to profit, said its management and workers' council were currently in talks about saving jobs but gave no further details.

"The reason (for the talks) is the ongoing difficult economic environment for all car manufacturers. Despite the successes of Opel's 'Olympia' turnaround programme further steps are necessary to secure a return to profitability," the company said in a statement.

A spokesman said the results of the talks were likely to be announced in the next two to three weeks, but declined to comment on exactly what was under discussion.

Ford , the world's second-biggest auto maker, has said it is cutting 6,700 jobs in Europe including 3,000 at its plant in Genk, Belgium, and 1,700 at its German offices, in a bid to return to profit in the region.