Stream Global Services need to answer “valid questions” following its decision to create 1,000 jobs in Belfast two years after closing its Derry operation, Foyle MP Mark Durkan has said.
Foyle MP Mark Durkan
The SDLP representative is the latest politician to question the decision Invest Northern Ireland to provide £3 million funding for the jobs at the company’s Belfast-based call centre.
Two years ago, the company closed its Derry operation. At one it was one of the city’s biggest jobs provider, employing 1,000 people.
Mr Durkan said employment created by Stream – even if pre-planned by an acquired company – should be welcomed, however many questions were being asked in Derry given Stream’s history.
He said: “Stream’s management consistently testified to the performance quality of the North – West workforce. Market conditions were emphasised as the reason for the last big run-down from 300 in 2011 and the preceding redundancies.
“Obvious questions now occur as to whether Stream might have considered restoring some jobs to Derry”
Mr Durkan concluded: “Stream must now indicate if there are realistic prospects in the future of locating additional jobs in Derry. People in Derry are rightly interested in Stream’s future consideration of our city where it has a strong history.”
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