Shell has started a voluntary redundancy process for staff in the Netherlands as it looks to cut its headcount by more than 10,000 jobs worldwide.
The oil company said the programme could be rolled out elsewhere and staff would be notified before external announcements are made.
Shell has around 11,000 directly employed staff in the Netherlands.
The company said last year it would cut 2,800 jobs as part of its $50billion takeover of BG Group.
A spokesman said: “Shell can confirm it has introduced a selective voluntary severance programme in The Netherlands.”