Job losses spark fears for future of shipyard

Beleaguered Belfast shipyard Harland & Wolff has announced that it is to lay off almost 150 of its employees in a bid to preserve the firm's future.

One hundred employees with the steelwork trades and 44 other staff are to be laid off as a result of a lack of orders beyond current work for the Ministry of Defence, it was confirmed.

In a statement, Harland & Wolff said the redundancies were necessary because the workforce and the shipyard would have been underused, as it had no firm contracts for future work.

“The company has sought to delay initiating action on redundancies as long as possible, not least as individuals' livelihoods are at stake, and has been in consultations with the trade unions since November 2001 when the potential under-utilisation (of the workforce) was initially identified," the statement read.

“Those employees affected will be notified shortly, with the first tranche of individual notices following thereafter. This is expected to mount to some 85 employees, comprising 75 operators and 10 staff.”

The shipyard said it would also consider applications from employees for voluntary redundancy in those areas which would be affected by the lack of orders.

The Regional Development Minister, Peter Robinson said he regretted the redundancies, in light of the shipyard's recent move to submit a business plan to the DRD minister, which outlined plans to dispose of a section of the company’s land in the lucrative Titanic quarter. The shipyard hopes that by selling the lease on the land, enough capitol would be generated to ensure the shipyard’s future in Belfast.

Mr Robinson said that the job losses now meant H&W’s business plan would assume even greater importance, and that it was currently being assessed by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of DETI.

The Minister also said that both he and Enterprise Minister Sir Reg Empey were keen to aid Harland and Wolff's attempts in securing its future, in addition to safeguarding employment in the shipbuilding and engineering industry.

He added: “I am determined that the land in question will be used and developed in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland and I want to give my personal commitment, as Minister for Regional Development, to the achievement of that objective.”

(AMcE)