Components factory to lay off 70

FURTHER manufacturing jobs have been lost to lower-cost countries in another jobs blow to the south east.

Waterford is again reeling, this time from 70 job cuts at a motor cable harnessing plant. Staff at Kromberg & Schubert were stunned yesterday morning by news that the company is to lay off around half of its 140-strong workforce in August. Most of the losses will be in the administrative and factory floor sections.

The German-owned company, which has been in Waterford since the late 1960s, cited “competitiveness cost pressures” as the primary cause for the job losses. It is transferring some of its business to Hungary.

Kromberg & Schubert employed 1,100 workers in its prime, back in 1992.

Last week, 31 workers were told they would be losing their jobs at Waterford Stanley.

They will also be looking for work in three months time.