HEWLETT-PACKARD:ABOUT 120 contract staff at Hewlett-Packard's Kildare facility are to lose their jobs.
The company confirmed last night the staff concerned were to be let go, but said the job losses would have happened regardless of the economic situation as the fixed-term contracts had come to an end.
“Hewlett-Packard (Manufacturing) Limited, Dublin Inkjet Operation continually reviews its business and makes changes to improve its cost structure and to drive efficiencies that will help grow the business,” the company said.
“As part of this process HP Manufacturing does work with suppliers to contract flexible workers for temporary positions to meet the changing needs of our business and demand cycles. HP confirms that 120 contract positions will have ended recently as part of normal work adjustments . . .”
In January, HP wrote to staff at its at the inkjet manufacturing plant in Leixlip, Co Kildare, asking them to take eight days leave during March or April so it could temporarily shut the plant.
The affected staff represented one-third of the 4,000-strong workforce. The company plans to close the manufacturing plant for a time between St Patrick’s Day and Easter, with staff requested to take annual or unpaid leave.
The job losses come as other companies in the high-tech sector look at rationalising operations to cut costs. The most devastating job losses were at Dell Ireland in Limerick in January, where more than 1,900 workers lost their jobs.
Last month, Intel announced it would cut its Irish staff numbers by 200-300 workers. The multinational is implementing a cost-cutting plan which saw it close five factories in the US, the Philippines and Malaysia in January.
