(Telecompaper) Telecom Italia (TIM) has confirmed the details of its agreement with trade unions over plans to cut its 50,000-strong domestic workforce. A total of 4,500 workers will take early retirement over the next 3 years with the company committing to cover the pension payments of 1,000 of them until they reach retirement age. The agreement also envisages "defensive solidarity" measures for 29,736 workers, a state-sponsored scheme that requires employees to cut their working hours by the equivalent of 10 percent in exchange for reduced pay. The solidarity regime will start on 19 June 2018 for a period of 12 months, said TIM.