Updated at 1pm with GWU statement, at 1.15pm with AD statement, at 1.40pm with company's statement, at 2.20pm with PN's statement.

Pharmaceutical company Actavis will be laying off 200 workers by the end of next year as part of a "consolidation" exercise following its takeover by Teva.

The announcement was made this morning by Economy Minister Chris Cardona during a news conference in which he said that a task force had been formed to help workers find alternative employment.

The minister said the government could "guarantee" that none of the affected workers would spend a single day on the jobless register. This did not mean that the government would itself offer employment to these workers, he clarified.

"Other pharmaceutical companies like Aurobindo have already expressed their willingness to take some of the workers on board," Dr Cardona said.

He added that the number of vacancies in the pharmaceutical sector at present exceeded the number of layoffs. 

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo expressed his disappointment regarding the timing and the company's attitude towards its workers.

"This is not the right way to treat workers, especially a few weeks before Christmas," he said.

"The fact that we are pro-business does not mean that we would take such things lightly," added.

Jobsplus chief Clyde Caruana said that the government agency had already identified at least 120 vacancies.

Actavis Limited employs 540 workers at its two plants in Bulebel and Ħal Far.

The redundancies, which will hit 50 operators, 50 lab analysts and employees in the IT and human resources department, will mostly hit the Ħal Far plant.

Restructuring at Ħal Far, Bulebel plants - company

In a statement this afternoon, the company said manufacturing at its Ħal Far plant was expected to cease at the end of the first quarter of 2018. A total 170 workers would be affected

It said the Bulebel was also experiencing decreased volumes and would consequently restructure its operations accordingly impacting some 35 jobs.

"We have hard-working and highly skilled people at our sites and these recommendations do not reflect on their high-level of performance.

"We are committed to being a responsible employer and will make decisions in accordance with all local laws and consultation processes. We will work with those impacted to make this challenging period of transition as smooth as possible.

"Outplacement services and severance benefits will be offered to all employees," it said.

GWU condemns 'insensitive action'

In a statement this afternoon, the General Workers' Union said it was ready to order industrial action to defend the interests of its members as it condemned Teva's behaviour for the way it acted.

It said that it was not consulted about the future plans and was only informed of the decision just before the workers were informed that the Arrow Pharm section would be closing down.

It said it would be meetings its representatives and called for discussions with the management to be embarked upon.

The union said that, in the meantime, it was also working with the government to help the affected workers find alternative employment.

Decision will have consequences on the economy - PN

The Nationalist Party expressed solidarity with the workers concerned and their families and said the decision was a slap in the face which would have consequences on the country's economic situation.

While calling for a public explanation about what happened and the reasons why, the party appealed to the government to do its utmost to save the jobs and see that workers rights were protected.

It said that alternative jobs should be provided with the same wages and conditions.

Globalisation at its worst - AD

Alternattiva Demokratika's spokesman on industry Ralph Cassar expressed solidarity with the workers and said the layoffs were proof of the damaging effects of a globalisation based on greed. 

Actavis, he said, consistently made huge profits and this was a game of Russian roulette on the stock markets at the expense of the livelihood of workers.

"Teva's consolidation is just another excuse to make the super rich richer. It is high time that governments and the Socialist-Popular-Liberal grand coalition in the European Parliament stop blocking EU-wide measures which put the brakes on corporate greed at the expense of society," he said.

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