From N. Ireland and Belgium, JTI can move its production to Romania

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) put up for closing the units in Lisnafillan, Ballymena (Northern Ireland) and Wervik (Belgium). The cigarette production could be relocated to other European factories, possibly in Romania and Poland, as BBC informs. Production from the Tier factory (Germany) could also be relocated.

The restructuring plan could affect 1,100 employee in EU member states and would be rolled out over several stages between 2016 and 2018. Workers at the Ballymena plant were informed by management on Tuesday. North Antrim MP Ian Paisley Jr said it was a “body blow” to the Northern Ireland economy. He said the redundancies would begin in May 2016. He added it “effectively starts a 90-day consultation with workers, not only in Ballymena but across JTI’s European footprint, to cease production”. “Each year almost GBP 60 million is pumped into the local wage economy by JTI – from 2017 that will be over,” he said. Gallaher, which made Silk Cut and Benson & Hedges cigarettes, was taken over by Japanese firm JTI in 2007. The factory is a major employer in Ballymena. The firm said its restructuring would be phased in, with factory closures completed between 2016 and 2018.

JTI released a statement on Tuesday announcing its intention to “restructure its manufacturing facilities as a result of significant and sustained changes impacting its global business”.