FG Wilson cuts 250 jobs
One of Northern Ireland's most successful engineering firms has become the latest victim of the economic downturn with the loss of 250 jobs.
FG Wilson announced today that it was shedding jobs at its three sites in west Belfast and east Antrim. Last month the company laid off more than 180 workers employed through a local recruitment agency.
The company, which designs and builds diesel and gas generators, said: "Unfortunately market conditions have continued to worsen. We need to lower our production volumes further to take account of the reduced demand for FG Wilson's products."
FG Wilson was founded in 1966 and acquired by its current parent company, Caterpillar, in 1999.
Meanwhile, almost 150 workers are being laid off for at least a month at a County Tyrone company that manufactures machinery used in the construction industry.
Fintec said it was confident the staff would all be back working at its Ballygawley plant after the lay-off.
A Northern Ireland Assembly member whose constituency includes two of the areas affected by FG Wilson's announcement said the losses were a massive blow for the whole of the province.
Alliance Party MLA for East Antrim, Séan Neeson, said it was time for the powersharing government at Stormont to intervene over the gathering economic crisis in Northern Ireland.
"The news on the employment front seems to be going from bad to worse, so the Stormont executive needs to look to radical ways to boost the economy. They need to do more to encourage entrepreneurship and create green economy projects.
"Northern Ireland has a highly skilled workforce and it's up to the Stormont executive to ensure the jobs are created to match local potential. This is essential, now more than ever."