Jurong Lays Off Nearly 250 Workers

Jurong Shipyard, part of SembCorp Industries Ltd., cut 249 jobs last week as part of the group's shipyard restructuring efforts. "Where practicable, attempts were made to re-deploy or reassign affected employees within the yards. Those who would not be re-deployed or whose jobs became redundant were retrenched," company officials said. Jurong Shipyard, with a workforce of 3,021 prior to the cutbacks, said discussions were held with respective shipyard unions, and an agreement was reached on the benefits payable to affected employees. The cutbacks are part of SembCorp's shipyard restructuring plans announced in November. The restructuring is expected to result in annual savings of $17.8 million starting in 2001. The revamp will eliminate duplications in yard operations of Jurong, Sembawang Shipyard Pte Ltd., SembCorp Logistics and its Indonesian Karimun yard.