Firm said its programme would see the retention of one factory

Union leaders and management at Desmonds have been meeting in Swatragh to discuss job losses at the firm's clothing factories.

The talks on Thursday followed the announcement that the textiles company is to make 500 people redundant.

Desmond & Sons is to shut down plants at Omagh in County Tyrone, Swatragh in County Londonderry and Irvinestown in County Fermanagh.

Desmonds, which employs almost 2,000 people in the province, makes clothes for Marks and Spencer.

Union officials said on Wednesday that management indicated the factories would close within weeks.

Redundancies finalised

On Wednesday, redundancy packages for workers are expected to be finalised by next Wednesday.

Trade and investment minister Ian Pearson said the government was looking at ways to help those who are to lose their jobs.

"We do have to make sure that we bring all the resources we have as government to bear," he said.

The minister added that there would be counselling and advice on what job opportunities were available in the locality.

The government would also offer advice on self-employment, he said.

The losses come just four months after the firm announced that more than 300 jobs were to go at two plants.

On Tuesday, the company said it was undertaking "a further planned reduction in its production capacity".

This would lead to the loss of 482 jobs, said a spokesman.

The company opened consultations with trade unions and informed its employees on Tuesday afternoon.

In order to compete for future orders the vast bulk of production will have to be fulfilled in our overseas factories Desmonds statement

The move means 229 redundancies in Omagh, where men's and women's trousers are manufactured, 130 redundancies in Swatragh, making pyjamas, and 115 in Irvinestown, where leisurewear is produced.

Desmonds is also expected to make five workers redundant at its Newbuildings factory in County Derry, with a further three losing their jobs at its Drumahoe plant.

The firm said its closure programme would see the retention of one factory in Northern Ireland, as well as its global headquarters and central warehousing function at Drumahoe.

'Work closely'

The company said had it not responded in this way it would have led inevitably to the demise of the business "to the greater economic detriment of Northern Ireland".

Desmonds provides employment for another 5,384 in its overseas joint venture factories and third party manufacturing units in Turkey, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

It is also a joint venture partner with Marks & Spencer in The Zip Project, which designs and sources children's wear for Marks & Spencer and employs 120 in Claudy, County Londonderry.