STAFF have criticised a mobile phone company after it said they could move to the Philippines in order to keep their jobs some 7,000 miles away.

Workers on Oranges night shift customer services team, in Darlington, are being offered the chance to take up roles with the firms service partner IBM in the Filipino capital Manila.

When some individuals asked about the transfer package they were given details of local salaries and told a "rice allowance" was paid to those in the roles.

Orange, which last year merged with T-Mobile to create a new company Everything Everywhere, recently confirmed that 40 staff would be affected by plans to outsource some work abroad.

So far a small number have since accepted severance packages to leave, while others have taken alternative roles within the company.

Others affected have been placed on "special leave", receiving basic pay, while they consider their options.

One staff member, who did not want to be named, claimed the proposed transfer to Manila had been a "smokescreen" so the firm could avoid making voluntary redundancies.

She said: "It is a complete joke.

"No-one in their right mind would want to move to Manila.

"When we asked for details of the transfer package we were handed a sheet of paper with what the IBM employees receive which is less than £200 a month, with a rice allowance and a laundry allowance.

"Thats not a transfer package. It is a job description for someone who works for IBM."

She added: "People are really upset about the way the whole process has been handled.

"It is appalling. We have had to fight for information about a number of things all along the way.

"People have naturally been worried about their jobs and have been told things like If you hate it so much why are you here?"

Darlington MP Jenny Chapman said: "I am lost for words. It is hard to take this Manila move seriously, nor consider it as a credible proposition.

"I really cannot imagine people working in the offices of Darlington Orange considering moving to the Philippines and I would be fascinated to know how many people take them up on this offer."

Orange, which cut 120 jobs in Darlington last year, has faced a series of allegations from staff who say a consultation has been inadequate and rushed and complain of shoddy treatment.

The Northern Echo understands concern from staff has been such that they have sought legal advice, while the conciliation service ACAS was also approached to act as a go-between in the process. The company said to date its services had not been required.

Some also claim severance packages are less than what was previously accepted by other workers who have left Orange.

When asked about the Manila move, a spokeswoman said: "Employees were offered the opportunity to consider roles with our service partner and some are still considering this option, having been supplied with all the details during the consultation process."

She said anyone taking an alternative daytime role within the company would receive additional payments for three months to cover some of the difference in night-time shift earnings, while "full details" of severance packages had been given.

Orange said individual consultations with staff who had not yet decided their preferred option had been extended, while the end of consultation date had been communicated to all employees so they had full notice.