Marks and Spencer has announced plans to cut 7,000 jobs over the next three months throughout its stores, management and support centre.
The retailer made the announcement today as part of its plan to "restructure" the company and invest more in online sales.
Marks and Spencer have around ten branches in Northern Ireland including in Belfast and Newry.
Between now and November thousands of jobs will be lost as the company embarks on "a multi-level consultation programme" to "further streamline the business both at stores and management level."
No word yet on whether it will affect its Northern Ireland branches.
Chief Executive Steve Rowe commented: “In May we outlined our plans to learn from the crisis, accelerate our transformation and deliver a stronger, more agile business in a world in which some customer habits were changed forever.
"Three months on and our Never the Same Again programme is progressing; albeit the outlook is uncertain and we remain cautious.
"As part of our Never The Same Again programme to embed the positive changes in ways of working through the crisis, we are today announcing proposals to further streamline store operations and management structures.
"These proposals are an important step in becoming a leaner, faster business set up to serve changing customer needs and we are committed to supporting colleagues through this time.”
