Sony Corporation has announced plans to cutting 10,000 jobs, about six per cent of its global workforce, according to media reports.

The Nikkei newspaper said on Monday that half of the latest round of job cuts would come from consolidating the firm’s chemicals ad small and midsize LCD operations.

Sony said last month it would sell part of a chemicals and devices subsidiary that makes films and adhesives used in televisions, cameras and mobile phones to state-backed Development Bank of Japan.

The Nikkei said it was not clear how many of the cuts would take place in Japan or overseas.

Sony may also request that its seven executive directors who served through the fiscal year to end-March, including Stringer, who is now chairman, return their bonuses, the Nikkei said without citing a source.

Sony declined to comment on the report.

The cuts come as new CEO Kazuo Hirai comes under pressure to return the Japanese consumer electronics and entertainment company to profit after four years in the red.