THE Cabinet has approved the task force report on measures to help the 800 workers losing their jobs at Packard Electric in Tallaght to find new employment. The cost of the measures is £2.1 million,
At 9.45 this evening 90 Packard workers will clock out for the last time.
About 360 other employees were laid off a year ago and the remaining 400 are due to be let go by July 5th. Two years ago the plant employed over 1,000 people.
Among the measures approved by the Cabinet last night are reeducation and training of Packard employees, setting up an enterprise fund, and creating two enterprise centres in Tallaght.
There will be special training programmes, and 100 VTOS places at the Tallaght regional technical college. A skills profile of the Packard workers is being compiled. The plan was announced last night by the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Pat Rabbitte.
Packard and its unions are still in dispute over redundancy terms. A Labour Court recommendation is expected in the next few days.
SIPTU official Mr Brendan Burns advised workers being laid off not to sign redundancy forms before the court's recommendation is known, as they could forfeit their right to any improved terms that might arise from the court's findings.