Up to 100 jobs feared lost in Westmeath

Up to 100 jobs are feared lost in Co Westmeath as the slump in the construction industry continues to have an impact on subsidiary services.

Fifty employees of the Wright Window System Factory in Milltownpass are reported to have lost their jobs.

The company, which supplies windows to both residential and commercial projects, is closed for the traditional builders' holiday until August 5th.

The workers told local Fine Gael TD James Bannon that they were told not to return after the holidays.

Elsewhere, it has been reported that GMAC Commerical mortgage call centre, which is based in Mullingar, is seeking a number of voluntary redundancies at the firm.

Mr Bannon said the job losses were a bitter pill to swallow for the people of Westmeath.

He said in 2002 the then minister for enterprise Mary Harney announced 100 new jobs at GMAC with much fanfare, but that a large percentage of those jobs are now gone and have been joined by 50 more at Wrights.

“One hundred jobs achieved and perhaps more than 100 lost in six years has shattered the expectations of the

hard-working personnel of the area”, Mr Bannon said.

© 2008 irishtimes.com