A Cork company which manufactures electronics on contract for other companies is to lay off 40 temporary staff.
This is the second time in recent weeks that workers have been laid off at Flextronics, which is based at Kilmurray in Cork City. A fortnight ago another 40 temporary staff were laid off from the plant.
A company spokesman refused to comment on reports from the plant that further lay-offs were expected within the coming weeks, and that the total number of people affected could be as high as 150.
Industry sources say the lay-offs are due to seasonal re-adjustments because of a fall-off in orders during the holiday season, and because of the downturn in the US electronics market which is having knock-on effects on Irish subsidiaries.
Last year Flextronics announced that it would create 300 new jobs through a £13m expansion agreed with IDA Ireland. It is thought that today's announcement will not affect that project, which is expected to bring total employment at Flextronics in Cork to over 700.
The Flextronics operation in Cork was established as Dovatron Ireland in 1992. It provides services on contract for customers in the telecommunications, computer, medical and industrial sectors. The plant is worth an estimated £15m per year to the local and national economy in wages, materials and services.
