Irish M&S jobs safe

Marks & Spencer has confirmed that its decision to cut almost 1,000 jobs will not affect any of its Republic of Ireland branches.

A spokesperson for the British company told the Cork Independent that Monday’s announcement was a UK-focused announcement and that jobs in the Republic of Ireland would “not be affected”.

Marks & Spencer (M&S) was in the process of a major structural reorganisation in the leadup to the Covid-19 pandemic, having closed 54 of its UK stores in the last year.

The company’s decision to lay off 950 workers is understood to be a part of an accelerated restructuring programme named Never the Same Again.

It has been reported that the jobs at risk are mostly store management and head office jobs.

M&S currently owns 17 stores across the Republic of Ireland.