AT&T to Lay Off Over 200 Workers at Košice Office

American telecommunications giant AT&T is preparing mass layoffs at its office in Košice, eastern Slovakia's largest city, with more than 200 employees expected to lose their jobs. The layoffs primarily affect workers who handle incoming calls and their managers, according to a trade union confirmation. The company cited multiple reasons for the workforce reduction, including the implementation of artificial intelligence technology and the effects of corporate consolidation. AT&T operates a customer service center in Košice, one of several international companies that established operations in Slovakia's second-largest city to take advantage of lower labor costs and skilled workforce. The layoffs represent a significant blow to the local economy, as Košice has positioned itself as a major hub for shared service centers and business process outsourcing for multinational corporations.