Fears for 425 jobs at HCL BPO Services
MORE than 400 jobs are under threat in Belfast and Armagh after outsourcing firm HCL BPO Services announced the start of consultation over planned redundancies at its centres in Northern Ireland.
The Indian owned firm has been operating in the province since 2002 but said a decline in demand for its services had forced it to reassess its operations.
The proposals involve 255 positions from 630 in Belfast and all 170 currently working at its centre in Armagh which it is thought will close.
Pledging its ongoing commitment to the province, the firm said it hoped that around 170 posts could be redeployed with any staff retained from Armagh transferred to Belfast.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster expressed her disappointment at the loss of around 255 jobs calling it a “dreadful blow” for those involved.
“It is a worrying time for everyone and whilst I appreciate the headline figures are shocking, I am somewhat encouraged by the commitment of HCL to try and redeploy 40 per cent of those affected, thereby mitigating the impact of today’s announcement.”
“Regarding the proposed closure of the Armagh facility, Invest Northern Ireland will be proactively engaging with both existing and prospective investors to encourage them to consider the location which has an established infrastructure and skilled workforce as an excellent investment opportunity.
She said that her department, alongside Invest NI and the Department for Employment and Learning, would do everything possible to limit the impact of any redundancies.
“I am reassured that today’s announcement is purely a reaction to wider commercial circumstances and in no way questions HCL’s longer term commitment to Northern Ireland.
“Over recent years HCL has been a valued employer and investor in Northern Ireland and they have helped to position Northern Ireland as a competitive investment location.
“This announcement is a reflection of the ongoing impact of the global economic downturn and my department, through Invest NI, is in constant dialogue with businesses about the difficulties they are facing and what can be done to alleviate them.”
Anita Barnard, general manager of HCL BPO Services said that the firm was committed to retain and retrain as many of the affected employees as possible.
“During the consultation period we will engage with each employee affected to look at ways we can assist them gain alternative employment within and outside HCL BPO.”
The company said its work for clients would continue as normal but it would be keeping all its clients informed of its proposals.
“Northern Ireland, with its talent pool and resources, is HCL BPO’s ‘Centre of Excellence’ in Customer Experience Management, especially for near-shore customers in the region,” added Ms Barnard.
“We are committed to the long-term development of this Centre of Excellence and over the next five years we have plans to invest in our technologies and to create new jobs in Northern Ireland.
“Over the 10n years we have operated in Northern Ireland we have built strong relationships with local colleges, our partners and our clients. We already service clients in the financial services, utilities and telecoms sectors from Northern Ireland and have added two more customers in the telecoms and utilities sectors last month.
“While customers at different times may move work in or out of our locations in accordance with their needs, our business plans are firmly focused on investing in our capabilities in Northern Ireland.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
