Animal research facility to close with 200 job cuts
The Harlan research facility in Basel, which is owned by Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), is to close, following a consultation period started in September. The majority of the 228 jobs at the company will be gone within 18 months, as ongoing studies come to an end.
A spokesperson for HLS said that despite proposals that came out of a consultation process, the closure which was announced in September could not be prevented.
He added that losses at the Swiss offshoot of US firm Harlan grew dramatically in the first half of the year, leaving them no choice but to pull the plug.
Although concrete figures were not given, the spokesperson further commented that Harlan Switzerland had booked “substantial losses” in its last few years.
The British company HLS took over Harlan Laboratories on May 1.
A social plan for employees who will lose their jobs has not yet been negotiated. The spokesperson confirmed that those affected would definitely be supported in finding new positions, but that no decision had yet been taken on financial matters.
Around 30 jobs in archiving, regulatory affairs and service positions will not be hit by the cuts.
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