WASHINGTON - JOHNSON & Johnson, a leading US health care and consumer goods company, said on Tuesday it will slash between six and seven per cent of its global workforce in a restructuring to cut costs.

The restructuring is expected to generate US$1.4 to 1.7 billion in (S$1.96 billion to S$2.38 billion) annual savings when it is fully implemented in 2011, the company said in a statement.

The global restructuring moves are 'designed to strengthen the company's position as the world's leading global health care company', the New Brunswick, New Jersey-based firm said.

Johnson & Johnson said it expects to take a pre-tax restructuring charge of US$1.1-1.3 billion in the current fourth quarter.

The maker of a wide range of health care and beauty products repeated its 2009 full-year earnings guidance of US$4.54 to US$4.59 per share. -- AFP