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Dell began meeting with employees today about layoffs at the company's operations around the globe, including its Winston-Salem plant.

But the company is being hush-hush concerning specifics, such as the number of people losing their jobs and where they work.

"We did start informing employees at various organizations and various parts of the globe today," Dell spokesman Venancio Figueroa said. "It goes back to streamlining our business for more than a year now."

Those efforts included laying off employees during the past year in certain pockets of the company, reducing travel, asking employees to leave voluntarily and capping salaries.

Figueroa declined to say what the future holds for Dell's Winston-Salem plant, which opened in 2005.

"I'm certainly not going to speculate on the future," he said. "All I can tell you is we're going to continue to evaluate all operations."

In February, Dell says, its profit dove 48 percent in the fiscal fourth quarter as the recession has taken a toll on the computer market.

In North Carolina, Dell received an incentive package from the N.C. General Assembly in 2004 with up to $225 million in tax credits spanning 15 years.

In return, the company was expected to create at least 1,500 jobs and invest $100 million over five years.

Contact Mike Fuchs at 373-3465 or michael.fuchs@news-record.com