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Harland & Wolff: 'Light at End of the Tunnel' As Agreed Lay-Offs Go On

19th August 2019
Employees of Harland and Wolff during their protest at the gates of the shipyard in Belfast Employees of Harland and Wolff during their protest at the gates of the shipyard in Belfast Credit: Belfast Telegraph-facebook

The administrators for Harland & Wolff have extended the temporary unpaid lay-off of workers in what a trade union said was a "light at the end of the tunnel" for the stricken shipyard.

As the Belfast Telegraph reports, business advisers BDO said they had agreed with trade unions that the majority of the 123 staff would continue their temporary lay-off - a move which staves off redundancy.

Staff have been holding a sit-in at the yard as unions called for renationalisation, although the Government has said its difficulties are a commercial issue.

Potential buyers had until midday yesterday (Thursday) to make an offer but the deadline has now been extended. Administrators said they hoped expressions of interest could translate into a viable offer .

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson said: "This is welcome news and is a demonstration of the ongoing work to secure a positive outcome for the shipyard."

Mr Robinson added he was talking to government about how it could help the shipyard and would also meet the administrator with his party leader Arlene Foster on Monday.

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Published in Belfast Lough
Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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