Cork and Sligo hit by 300 job losses in technology firms

MORE than 300 job losses have been announced in Cork and Sligo by two companies in the technology sector.

In Cork city, Option Wireless, which makes wireless communications products, yesterday said it was making 150 people redundant. It said the first layoffs were likely to take place in January next year, with further redundancies at the end of March. The company will retain just 22 people at its operation at the Kilbarry Industrial Estate in the northside of the city.

It said it had to significantly downsize the Cork operation because of a €20m cost-cut plan by Belgian parent company, Option NV. Much of the work will transfer to what the company called “lower cost” regions in Asia.