Maxtor axes 1,100
Disk drive maker Maxtor has retrenched about 1,100 workers, about
half of whom are Singaporeans. Even old-timers who had worked for
20 years were not spared.
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National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) assistant secretary-general
Halimah Yacob said the number was part of the 5,500 jobs the
company said last year it would be cutting. Still, she was taken by
surprise on Friday.
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"We didn't expect such a big number at one go but, in terms of the
total, they have not exceeded the figure they told us," she
said.
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"To start the year with over 1,000 people retrenched is quite
painful for us. I don't expect retrenchments in such large numbers,
not from a single company.
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"But we must be prepared for all eventualities, as in the
electronics sector, cycles of ups and downs are frequent and
common."
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To help the workers find new jobs, NTUC organised a two-day job
fair for the electronics sector, with 20 companies offering 500
positions. 938Live
