Figures reveal over 190 redundancies
THERE have been 191 confirmed redundancies in Ballymoney over the year to March 31 2009.
Part of the Northern Ireland Redundancy data, the worrying figures were revealed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment last week.
So far this year 13 workers have been made redundant in the borough with a record 12 people made out of work in February.
However Moyle is showing a brighter side with no one made redundant over the year to March 31 2009 - and the figures is still zero so far this year.
A spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment explained: "Under the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Amended 8 October 2006) companies are only legally required to notify the Department of impending redundancies of 20 or more employees.
"While the figures provided are likely to be an underestimate of total job losses, it is not possible to quantify the extent of the shortfall. Subject to the criteria mentioned, employers must notify the Department of (a) redundancies proposed and (b) redundancies confirmed.
"Since all proposed redundancies do not actually take place, the confirmed total provides a better indication of real job losses. Proposed redundancies are notified to the Department using the Advance Notification Form.
"Redundancies do not necessarily equate to job losses, for example, employees who do not qualify for a redundancy package, those on temporary contracts, will not be incorporated into the redundancy figures."
There were 3,817 confirmed redundancies over the year to March 31 2009 in Northern Ireland - an increase of 124% compared to the same period in the previous year (1,707).
Commenting on the rise in unemployment and redundancies in Ballymoney, Mayor John Finlay said: "In recent years Ballymoney has suffered a number of bitter blows on the employment front with substantial job losses and plant closures, in food, healthcare and textile manufacturing, as well as the construction and transport sectors. There has been reductions, too, in employment levels in some of our small and medium sized enterprises.
"All of this and the resultant reduced spending power for local shops and service businesses is a major setback for the business community in our town and surrounding area. Council has made efforts to ensure that the relevant Government Departments provide those made redundant with advice on employment, training and education and re-training opportunities and benefit advice.
"We look to our Assembly to take a firm stand and to take whatever measures they can to secure new jobs, provide help for jobseekers and to improve the situation for hard-pressed working people in this time of economic downturn. We call, too on the UK Government to make renewed efforts to improve the economy."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Ballymoney
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
