Due to a financial crisis, Amnesty International’s Irish division is planning temporary layoffs for nearly half its staff starting from next week. During a meeting with the employees on Wednesday, Stephen Bowen, the executive director of Amnesty’s Irish division, informed the staff about the temporary layoffs, saying that the organisation couldn’t fulfil its entire wage obligations for September.
Amnesty International employs 29 individuals at its Dublin Fleet Street offices. Out of these, 11 employees, consisting both full-time and part-time workers, will reportedly be laid off temporarily.
Karen Smollen from Siptu, the union that represents most of the staff members, remarked that despite the employees agreeing to a 10% reduction in their working hours and wages last year, the recent layoffs came as a shock. The layoffs are intended to be temporary whilst the organisation tries to better its financial conditions. Smollen expressed that although voluntary redundancies will be offered, the organisation isn’t currently in a position to finance the redundancies itself.
Smollen commented on the layoff news stating the short notice and the financial struggles of the members. She urged Amnesty’s board of directors to do everything necessary to protect the long-term employment of the Amnesty staff.
In an official statement, Amnesty International Ireland expressed regret over the tough decision to proceed with the temporary layoffs, a direct result of a temporary cash flow issue. The layoffs and reduced working hours will affect 11 staff members, effective from September 6th. The statement also mentioned that this step is part of a substantial transformation plan aimed at securing the future of the human rights organisation in Ireland. Despite the current financial hardship, the organisation expressed optimism about recovering and becoming a stronger, more flexible, more sustainable human rights entity.