Jobs boost from Siemens

SIEMENS is expanding its business in Ireland despite announcing huge job cuts worldwide.

The electronics giant is expected to this week announce the creation of jobs at its base in Cork.

This news will come as a relief to workers who were told last week that a process has begun to cut 16,750 jobs worldwide as part of cost-cutting measures.

Siemens employs 1,100 people in Ireland.

The company said specific details of the impact of global jobs cuts in its Irish operations are not available at this point but added that business is booming in Ireland.

It said it sees significant opportunities in the energy, healthcare, industry and IT solutions and services sectors in Ireland.

“Our services centre in Cork continues to expand. With our portfolio we are well prepared for the infrastructure challenges in Ireland and we are going to significantly grow our business in Ireland,” said Siemens spokesman, Michael O’Connor.

Last week a letter outlining details of the global job cuts was circulated to staff at Siemens operations in Ireland.

Staff were told to “tackle the period ahead of us resolutely and responsibly on the basis of our common values”.

Siemens aims to eliminate 5,250 jobs in Germany, where the company is based.

The reductions represent about 3.9% of the workforce.

Chief executive Peter Loescher set a target in April to cut €1.2 billion in selling, general and administrative costs by 2010 as part of an effort to raise profitability to the level of rivals such as General Electric and ABB. “We want to begin negotiations with the employee representative quickly in order to make the cuts in a way that will be as socially responsible as possible,” he said.