Fears for fate of 200 tech jobs in Cork

25 Sep 2008

It has been a bittersweet week for Ireland on the tech jobs front. On the one hand, 315 jobs were created earlier this week by Sim2Learn and Netazza, but on the other, some 200 jobs at an electronic tag manufacturer now hang in the balance.

It is understood that workers at the Sensormatic Tyco plant in Cork may be told tomorrow that their jobs are in danger.

The workers’ jobs are expected to go by the end of next year.

The news is a fresh blow to Cork city, which has a proud and untarnished reputation as a centre for excellence in electronics and pharmaceutical manufacturing, but which has been blighted by a steady flow of job losses from manufacturing companies over the past few years.

Earlier in the week, Cork was rocked by the news that 150 jobs are at risk at another manufacturing firm, SwissCo.

Tyco Sensormatic employs 250 people on the outskirts of Cork city and manufactures electronic anti-theft tags for retailers.

The company is considering new lower-cost locations in other world geographies, but it is hoped a small number of positions in supply chain and design work will remain in Cork.

By John Kennedy

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com