Sinn Féin spokesperson on enterprise, trade, and employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, has said news that TikTok are undertaking global restructuring, with hundreds of Irish jobs under threat, will come as a significant concern to workers and called on the company to engage with employees in a bid to save jobs.

The Fingal TD also said that if collective redundancies are pursued, the Minister for Enterprise must intervene to ensure redundancies are voluntary and not compulsory.

Teachta O’Reilly said:

“The news that TikTok is undertaking global restructuring which will impact its Irish workforce is a crushing blow for the workers, their families, and their communities.

“This is another shock for the tech industry in Ireland and sign that volatility still pervades the sector.

“As one of the most significant technology sectors in Europe, these reports are a further worrying development for tech workers in Ireland.

“Twitter, Stripe, Intel, Dell, Microsoft and Meta/Facebook are just some of the companies who have implemented restructuring of their workforce in recent months.

“It is essential that the government analyse the trend in these job losses, and also that they assess what can be done at domestic and European level to stabilise the situation.

“It is essential that TikTok engage quickly and in good faith with the workers and their representatives during this period with a focus on saving as many jobs as possible.

“The Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment should engage with TikTok and the workers to see if there is any prospect of saving the jobs, and failing that, he must ensure that any redundancies are voluntary and not compulsory. 

“In addition to engaging with TikTok, the Department of Enterprise must also work with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to understand the skills profile of impacted staff and ensure that profiles are shared with client companies of all state agencies who may be hiring or looking for similar skills.

“The volatility in the tech sector over the past number 18 months further reinforces the need for all workers to join, and be active, in their trade union. Workers need a strong voice in the workplace and the only way to achieve through trade unionism.

“The workers in TikTok must be the priority here and it is imperative that the government stands up for them. I offer my and Sinn Féin’s solidarity and support to the workers at what is a very difficult time.”