Cuts are expected at the broadcaster as part of cost-saving measures in the new licence fee settlement, introduced by the government's comprehensive spending review last month.
The World Service has to find savings of more than 16 per cent or £67 million over the next four years according to the terms set out in the review, sparking fears that around 300 jobs could be lost.
"We are a very staff-heavy organisation, most of our costs are in people. So the reduction in staff numbers will be broadly in line with the level of savings that we need to make, ie more than 16%. Our staffing is 2,000 so you can work it out relatively straightforwardly. It will be hundreds of jobs that need to go," director of BBC Global News Peter Horrocks told a Commons foreign affairs committee earlier this month.
In an email to staff today Horrocks says the announcements have to be delayed to allow further discussion about future plans for the World Service with the BBC Trust as it enters the new licence fee period.
"We can confirm that we have had to postpone any intended announcement about how BBC World Service will respond to last month's spending review announcement till January 2011 at the earliest," a BBC World Service spokesman confirmed.
"The process involves discussions with the BBC Trust, the BBC Executive and the FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] about proposed changes that we would have to make as a result of the reduced funding from the FCO as part of this spending review. This process continues.
"The delay is regrettable as we recognise that staff would like clarity about their futures as soon as possible. But we firmly believe it is in the interests of BBC World Service that we engage with the BBC Trust and BBC Executive further on this. We are all united in wanting to ensure BBC World Service is sustained as far as possible as it moves forward."
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