As many as 320 jobs will be lost at the Novartis site in Ringaskiddy, Cork, over the next 24 months.
Staff were called to a ‘special meeting’ earlier today, where they received the grim news.
550 people are currently employed at the site.
The news follows the recent announcement that up to 500 people are set to lose their jobs when the Molex plant in Shannon, Co. Clare, closes down in 2020.