Pfizer axes lay-off plan and creates 40 jobs

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has bounced back from hard times, scrapping plans to lay people off and announcing it is to create 40 jobs.

In 2013, the company announced plans to close its Little Island plant in Co Cork, advising 160 employees at the site they would be made redundant.

However, greater competitiveness and increased global demand for cholesterol-busting Lipitor and two new cancer drugs have helped secure their jobs, and now the company is looking to take on more employees at Little Island and at another plant in Ringaskiddy.

Seamus Fives, site leader for both plants, said he hopes the bulk of the new jobs which will be filled before Christmas.

Mr Fives said the company will be looking for process operators, mechanical and electrical/instrumentation craft workers, process engineers, process chemists, and quality control analysts.

The company currently employs approximately 3,200 people at six sites in Ireland.