Up to 440 staff at a pharmaceutical company in North Dublin have been handed redundancy packages for Christmas after finding out their plant will close.
US pharmaceutical company Viatris will shut down its manufacturing plant in Baldoyle, which makes generic medicines over the next two years.
Tanaiste Leo Varadker has said the news is devastating for the Viatris staff and their families.
“This is really devastating news for those working in Viatris and their families, It has been an exceptionally difficult year for everyone. He said
“This will come as another blow, especially so close to Christmas”.
Viatris has five sites in Ireland, but the other four sites which employ 1,400 people will not be affected by the decision to close the Baldoyle plant.
The firm said there would be no immediate action taken and the majority of its workforce there will remain employed until late 2022.
Labour Enterprise spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin called on the IDA and the Government to examine if the facility in Baldoyle can potentially be offered to other pharmaceutical companies, and has asked that they ensure that the workers get all the support they need as the positions are made redundant.
“It is a huge blow for the workers and the local community,’’ he said. “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.
“Efforts 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, he continued.
“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.”
Viatris said it will be offering employees comprehensive separation packages, including pay and healthcare continuation, career counselling, and continued coverage under the Employee Assistance Programme.
In a statement, the company said: “Today’s decision in no way reflects upon the company’s genuine appreciation for the commitment and work ethic of the people in and community of Baldoyle.
“Viatris is grateful for the dedication exhibited at this site and its remaining workforce in Ireland will continue to play an important role in the company’s future.”
The Baldoyle closure is the result of a global restructuring initiative by the Pittsburgh-based firm, which aims to achieve cost savings of $1 billion by the end of 2024.
