British cable assembly group Volex will shed 150 of its 800strong workforce in Castlebar, Co Mayo. The company, one of the biggest employers in Mayo, blamed the worldwide slump in the telecoms market for the unexpected layoffs. Staff received only a week's notice of the layoffs, which will take effect from Friday next. The majority of those being let go are temporary workers and were taken on only last August.

Company executives broke the news as employees completed their shifts yesterday. Volex is regarded as the world leader in the manufacture of computer cable assembly systems and Castlebar is the hub of the company's operations.

Staff have already been let go at the Volex plants in Estonia and Croatia.

Mr John Corcoran, general manager of the Castlebar plant, said yesterday the layoffs were necessary because of the downturn in the world market for telecommunications. He was hopeful that the situation might be reversed with an upturn in the sector.

Trade union leaders have expressed dismay at the layoffs but hoped they would be temporary.

SIPTU has been given assurance by the company that the workers - most of whom are female - who were being let go would be given an option of returning to work with Volex .

The layoffs at Volex is the second body blow for industry in Mayo since Christmas. Recently, Henniges laid off 200 workers at its plant in Ballina.

Castlebar Chamber of Commerce said it hoped to meet management to seek assurances that workers who were laid off would be re-instated.