IT has been confirmed that Schwarz Pharma are set to make a number of workers redundant in the early part of 2010.

In a statement, parent company UCB confirmed that jobs will be going. “Schwarz Pharma announced a proposal to reduce its headcount by approximately 29 positions as part of a restructuring programme. The goal is to achieve the jobs reduction through a voluntary severance programme and completion is expected by Quarter 1/Quarter 2 of 2010.”
The statement confirmed that new arrangements will apply at the Shannon plant. “The company is restructuring following the completion of a third-party manufacturing project, the result of which was to decommission one of its three plants on the Shannon site. The company’s other two manufacturing plants on site will continue to operate to normal capacity.”
Mayor of Shannon Seán McLoughlin said that the news reflected a worrying pattern. “You don’t see major headlines when 20 or 30 jobs are going but it’s happening all the time and a lot of people are being left unemployed, which has a big impact on their families. We need to stop the haemorrhage of jobs from the industrial estate and we need some action to promote the Mid-West.”

Councillor McLoughlin also said that he felt Shannon Development should have its role expanded to allow it to provide more support to maintain existing jobs. “They have the knowledge and expertise that’s needed and they brought most, if not all, of the jobs to Shannon.”