Braun cuts 225 jobs at Carlow facility

Over 200 jobs are to go at the Braun electrical appliance plant in Carlow in a move that will see the company lay off a quarter of its workforce in the facility.

In a statement released on Wednesday 28 August, Braun revealed that 225 jobs are to go at the Carlow facility over the next six months, as part of a reassessment of its worldwide operations.

Part of the Gillette group, Braun is the biggest employer in the town, so the news that only 580 of the company's current workforce of 805 will retain their jobs represents a major blow for the Carlow area.

Representatives from SIPTU have already met with management at the site to discuss redundancy terms, according to SIPTU's Carlow Branch Secretary, Michael Brown.

Responding to the news, Tánaiste Mary Harney said that she was extremely disappointed by the announcement of the job losses.

The Tánaiste added that the priority is now to find alternative employment for those who will lose their jobs as a result of the decision, and stressed that FÁS would ensure that the Braun workforce would have the skills necessary to avail of alternative employment.

She went on to express her belief that IDA Ireland's investment in a new technology park for the Carlow area would provide employment opportunities when the site nears completion by the end of the year.

She added: "IDA Ireland has also been working closely with the Carlow Institute of Technology to enable the correct mix of courses to be available to the new industries which the Government is seeking to attract to the area.

(CL)