Urgent examination of NI textiles sector future needed

Ulster Unionist MLA, Billy Armstrong has called on the Government to launch an initiative to examine the future of the textile manufacturing and other manufacturing sectors in Northern Ireland.

Mr Armstrong made his comment in response to the news of jobs loss fears at Saville Row shirt makers in Co Londonderry.

The Mid-Ulster MLA said he was taken aback by news that the Castledawson based firm was to lay off 65 of its workforce.

Mr Armstrong said: “The textile industry used to be the foundation of Ulster’s manufacturing base. Now it has become an ever-shrinking sector, which in many people’s view is not a stable employment area.

“In little over two weeks we have seen 450 jobs go in Northern Ireland’s industries and loss of production, and Northern Ireland ability not being able to produce in competition on the world markets.

“I believe there must be firm action to assess the safety of NI Companies, and that of the remaining jobs, not only at Castledawson, but the increase production throughout the rest of the Province and the ability to compete at all levels.”

Mr Armstrong said that the loss of the work for Thomas Pink only served to further highlight the continuing threat to jobs in the Province, particularly when manufacturers able to secure production at a fraction of the cost overseas.

“Last week we saw Desmonds announce that loss of more than 300 jobs, at its factories in the Province. The warning signs have been around for some time and it is vital that a wide ranging assessment of the industry is undertaken now in order to define the way ahead as it is becoming more and more difficult for local firms to compete in such an aggressive market when labour costs in other countries are considerably lower than they are in Northern Ireland,” he added.

Desmonds, who make clothes for Marks & Spencer, cut jobs last week announcing the closure of the Dungiven factory with over 130 jobs axed and the cessation of clothes manufacture at the Springtown factory in Derry with the loss of over 170 jobs.

(SP)