SHANNON has been hit with another jobs blow with news that Sykes are set to make a large number of workers redundant. The company has so far declined to comment but it is understood that between 80 and 100 workers are to go.

The jobs are set to be transferred to lower cost economies in countries including Hungary and Egypt.
The employees involved are set to depart in the first couple of months of 2010.
The IT company is understood to have recently lost a major contract with Sony.
Sykes has its headquarters in Florida and it specialises in providing customer support outsourcing solutions. Most of the workers who will lose their jobs are call-centre workers, who provide technical support to clients.
Deputy Pat Breen said Government support is needed to stem the loss of jobs from Shannon.
“At its peak, Sykes employed 380 people. I now understand that after this latest news, only 60 staff will remain in the Shannon facility. The high cost of doing business in Ireland is a major factor, as jobs like these at Sykes are being lost to cheaper economies. Yet the Government has done nothing to address our loss of competitiveness.”
More jobs will be lost in the county without urgent action, he added. “We are at a crossroads here in County Clare. Jobs are evaporating at a frightening pace. The lack of Government action and support will sound the death knell for many others.”
Mayor of Clare Tony Mulcahy also said that there is a need to protect jobs. “After the Dell decision, an application for funding from the EU’s globalisation fund was made but that’s not for Clare. An application should also be made for Shannon given the amount of jobs that have been lost.”
TD Joe Carey said it was a very difficult time to be facing redundancy. “My thoughts are with the staff who are set to lose their jobs, many of whom have given years of service and dedication to the company. With unemployment at 12.5%, it’s the worst possible time for anyone to lose their job.”