Contagion of layoffs demands serious attention from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil
Contagion of layoffs demands serious attention from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil - The Labour Party
- Second tech company announces potential lay offs in Ireland this week
Labour’s enterprise spokesperson George Lawlor TD has expressed grave concern as Microsoft becomes the second tech company this week to announce lay offs in the Irish market.
Deputy Lawlor implored Minister Burke to work with colleagues in Government to protect livelihoods as Ireland braces for more shocks from Trump.
Deputy Lawlor said:
“The news that up to 200 Irish jobs could be lost is devastating for those impacted, their families and their communities.
“There is a contagion spreading across the tech industry as uncertainty continues to permeate the economy. It’s leading to stagnation and critically, it is stalling investment which is having a knock on impact on jobs.
“The global uncertainty is having real life consequences for the lives of people working for tech firms and other companies across Ireland. All the warning signs are there and Government must now heed them.
“As a country we need to get serious on developing a new national industrial policy that will continue to ensure that we can attract the kind of high quality foreign direct investment but it must also ensure good, secure, union jobs while also growing our indigenous enterprise base.
“This must be a wake-up call for the government on the urgent need to improve Irelands’ offering by reducing energy costs and speeding up the delivery of infrastructure.
“For some time, Labour has called for the weekly wage cap for statutory redundancy to be increased from €600 to €1,000. The cap has not been reviewed or revised upwards in 20 years. It’s not a silver bullet but as the contagion spreads, we must do all that we can to protect working people. I would urge the Minister to act on this, to support workers at risk of losing their jobs.”