BHP Billiton is set to lay-off 70 workers in its potash business in Saskatoon, Canada, citing weak global commodity prices.

The job cuts represent 10% of the company’s workforce in the country.

BHP Billiton communications manager Bronwyn Wilkinson told CBC: "BHP Billiton is focused on sustainable productivity improvements and cost reductions in the face of low global commodities prices.

"We have undergone structural changes and cost reductions in line with those at BHP Billiton globally."

"In that context, we have undergone structural changes and cost reductions in line with those at BHP Billiton globally."

Wilkinson added that the complete surface work under BHP’s ‘scope of investment’ is through.

Staff may receive their notices by June 2016, with most being company employees and some contractors.

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Sixty eight of the workers being laid-off are based in Saskatoon.

Two or three work at the Jansen potash project, a proposed underground development project in east-central Saskatchewan, 140km east of Saskatoon.

The mine contains 3,250 million dry tonnes of indicated resources and inferred resources of 120 million dry tonnes.