Viatris job losses a huge blow but future options for site must be examined
- Taskforce needed to find alternative users for the Baldoyle facility.
- Workers must receive all available supports as manufacturing is wound down over two years.
Labour Enterprise spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said the news just before Christmas of the loss of over 400 jobs in his constituency over the next two year is a huge blow for the workers and called on the IDA and the Government to examine if the facility in Baldoyle can potentially be offered to other pharmaceutical companies, and ensure that the workers get all the supports they need as the positions are made redundant.
Deputy Ó Ríordáin said:
“The announcement of future job losses is always troubling, but particularly so close to Christmas and I am concerned that so many positions will be lost in one location. It is a huge blow for the workers and the local community.
“While the job losses will be phased over two years, with the economic threats of Brexit and the pandemic already leading to higher unemployment this is a real blow for the area, and I am concerned about how difficult this will be for the local community to absorb.
“I am calling on the Government and IDA to look at setting up a project team or taskforce to ensure the workers get all the supports they need including access to social welfare and education opportunities. Alongside that efforts must also must be made to see if the owners would consider agreeing to make the facility available on the market to other potential pharmaceutical manufacturers to preserve the skills locally, and maintain some employment there.
“At this time the most important thing is to ensure that as staff are let go that they get all available supports from the Department of Social Protection, and that Viatris honour its obligations to them.”