Medical devices manufacturer Covidien is understood to be meeting unions representing 600 workers in Athlone who fear for their jobs after it emerged some of the positions will be moved to Thailand.
It is believed that at least 100 jobs are on the line because of the transfer.
The Athlone facility is one of a number of Covidien facilities in Ireland, which also include Tullamore, Dublin and Galway.
Last year, Covidien announced 200 new jobs and plans to invest €900,000 with the National University of Ireland in two major R&D projects that will influence the future of surgery and wound healing.
It is understood that market pressures encouraged the medical devices giant to consider shifting manufacturing operations to Thailand.
Talks between unions and management will take place later this morning around voluntary redundancy.
