Healthcare giant to axe 175 jobs
Tuesday February 09 2010
IRELAND suffered a major employment blow last night as US healthcare giant Boston Scientific confirmed it was to axe 175 jobs.
The firm -- which ranks as one of Ireland's biggest employers -- is understood to have sought the job losses in direct response to difficult global market conditions and sales pressure on specific medical devices.
Boston Scientific employs almost 5,000 staff between massive facilities in Galway and Cork. The 175 jobs will be lost on a phased basis from the firm's Galway operation, where almost 3,000 people are employed. The Galway plant specialises in the production of medical devices for cardiac and vascular treatment. The 16-year old Galway facility ranks as one of Boston Scientific's biggest production centres worldwide.
In a statement, the firm said the job losses were regrettable but necessary -- and stressed it would have no impact on the firm's future Irish operations.
"Boston Scientific remains strongly committed to its operations in Ireland," a spokesman said.
Boston Scientific's Cork operation is not understood to be affected by the round of job cuts. The firm has a workforce of almost 2,000 in Cork.
- Ralph Riegel
Irish Independent
