More than 100 Merck workers left in limbo in Wicklow as agreement not reached

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

The move to close the facility comes following Merck’s strategic portfolio product review, however other operations in Ireland are unaffected.

Since the company announcement on October 22 of its plans to discontinue operations at the Arklow site there has been an ongoing effort to ensure that workers are a top priority.

IDA Ireland have been engaging with Merck’s German headquarters to achieve the best outcome for the company’s site.

The state agency activated internal processes for responding to the potential and actual job loss situation, which involves proactive engagement with site leadership of the company and its parent company.

In the event of job losses, the established protocols see the IDA partnering with other support agencies at a local level to implement the Job Loss Protocol. The state agency provides a coordinated response by the relevant Government departments and agencies at a local level to support impacted employees in the event of a significant job loss announcement.

Speaking on the latest development, Wicklow-Wexford TD Brian Brennan expressed his concern that no agreement has been reached between company and workers.

“While it is my priority to continue to engage with the IDA in a search for a new buyer, I also what to ensure that the workers of Merck are fairly treated when it comes to their redundancy package.

“This is a loyal, hard-working and highly staff body, some of whom have given decades of service to Merck.

“During the pandemic these staff worked around the clock in, order for orders to be processed for the essential work of producing Covid vaccines but now with notice of closure their futures are bleak."

Deputy Brennan says staff need some assurance that there is a path being put in place to support them and to provide them with a level of certainty.

“I have spoken to some who have new mortgages, others who are at an age where to be find new employment might prove challenging.

“Merck are a strong international company that have benefited over the years from this workforce, so there is a justifiably high level of expectation that their employees will receive the redundancy payment that reflects their efforts over the years, befitting to the status of the company.”

The Merck Life Science facility in Arklow has long been a large employer in the town, with upwards of 100 staff employed in the area.

Deputy Brennan says his concern lies with all the potentially impacted employees and their families.

“I am aware that the is a concerted effort to seek a buyer for the plant and have been in direct contact with the IDA on the matter. However, even in the best of situations, these things take time, and current geo-political climate will make things that bit more difficult.

“This is why all efforts must be made to ensure that this workforce is supported to the highest possible level,” he added.