Cashel pharma company to close with 100 job losses

With confirmation that Ranbaxy in Tipperary is to close with the loss of 100 jobs by year’s end, the focus turns to upskilling the staff so they can find jobs.

The Cashel plant’s owners, Sun Pharma, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, had indicated several months ago that it was looking to scale back its global operations and there had been speculation the Tipperary facility may be affected. Yesterday it confirmed the worst fears of the workers there saying it expects to cease operations there “by end of current calendar year”.

Tony Kelly, regional officer with Unite trade union which represents around 70 workers at the facility, which makes and packages generic drugs, said the union was very disappointed Sun Pharma was closing the facility having failed to find a buyer “especially as it is less than 12 months since the acquisition was made”.