A CO ANTRIM engineering firm is laying off 260 workers a month after it laid off a further 180 employees.
FG Wilson, which is one of Northern Ireland's biggest concerns employing about 3,000 people, said it regretted the job losses but that it was necessary in the long-term interests of the company.
Meanwhile, 146 workers are being laid off for four to six weeks at a Co Tyrone company which manufactures machinery used in the construction industry.
Fintec said it was confident the staff would all be back working at the Ballygawley plant after the lay-off.
FG Wilson is shedding 138 jobs at its Larne site, 77 in Springvale in 45 in Monkstown. Last month it laid off more than 180 workers, all of whom were agency recruits, unlike the full-time workers whose jobs are being made redundant.
FG Wilson was founded in 1966 and taken over by the American giant Caterpillar in 1999.
"Last month, FG Wilson announced the release of a significant number of agency workers. Unfortunately market conditions have continued to worsen and we need to lower our production volumes further to take account of the reduced demand for FG Wilson's products," said a company spokesman yesterday.
"As a result, we are proposing up to 260 redundancies in our permanent workforce.
"This is subject to consultation with employees and their representatives. We will explore ways to minimise the need for compulsory redundancies, which will include offering voluntary redundancy," he added.
"We regret this action is necessary. However, it is ultimately in the long-term interests of our business. Caterpillar's focus is on making decisions and taking actions that will best position the company for long-term success and profitable growth," said the spokesman.
DUP East Antrim Assembly member Alastair Ross said he was saddened by the redundancies and hoped the number of employees involved would not be as high as was suggested.
Alliance Party enterprise spokesman Seán Neeson said the further job losses was a "massive" blow. "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."
