BREAKING 10am: Workers at Stiefel in Sligo town have been called to an emergency meeting this morning.
The plant which is based in the Finisklin industrial estate in Sligo Town is understood to be closing by 2021.
Workers were informed at the meeting this morning.
Stiefel makes skincare products and opened in Sligo in 1975 with just 10 staff.
It was taken over by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKlein about ten years ago.
There was a threatened closure in 2009 but GSK subsequently scrapped plans to close the facility in Sligo investing in it instead saving over 100 of the jobs at the time.
In 2015, 50 new jobs were created there.
In a statement this morning, Fine Gael TD for Sligo Leitrim and Assistant Government Whip Tony McLoughlin has said that the decision of ‘Glaxosmithkline – Stiefel’ to close its Sligo operation by 2021 is a ‘very disappointing announcement for Sligo and the hard-working employees at the Glaxo Smith Kline operation here.’
Deputy McLoughlin says he has spoken to the Department for Business Enterprise and Innovation this morning who have advised that the immediate concern of the Department is for the workers and families directly impacted by this development.’
The closure of the plant is expected to take place on a phased basis, over three years.
Deputy McLoughlin says the Government will make every State support available to the workers at GSK in Sligo. ‘The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection is aware of the situation and we will be doing our utmost to help these workers transition and find new employment opportunities when the time comes.’
