Residential care organisation Philadelphia Zorg is cutting its 7,600 workforce by 900 jobs over the next two years.

The company, which provides residential care for people with handicaps throughout the Netherlands, says the job losses are necessary because of government spending cuts.

Philadelphia Zorg says it plans to work more with volunteers in an effort to make up the shortfall, Nos television reported. For example, where currently two paid workers help residents to eat at meal times, this will be done in the future by one member of staff and one volunteer.

Healthcare union Abvakabo FNV said the cuts are unacceptable and the organisation is acting too quickly because most budgetary changes will not take place until 2015.