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SANTIAGO.-  The Free Zone company FM Industries today announced it will lay off 1,000 employees, but will continue to operate with 500.

In a statement, the free zone company said the job cuts will allow it to continue working and to meet its commitments with customers and suppliers.

FM Industries, which since 1987 makes U.S. brand trousers in the Victor Espaillat Mera Industrial Free Zone Park, said it expects the causes that led it to reduce personnel are temporary and that the external and internal factors that affects the free zone sector improves in the near future, allowing it to reinstate the laid off personnel.

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COMMENTS
20 comment(s)
Written by: gouletcolonial This user is banned, 9 Mar 2009 9:47 AM
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Temporary ? yeah like two years temporary if we are lucky
Written by: josean, 9 Mar 2009 10:18 AM
From: United States
They will all be hired to build the next METRO line!
Written by: dreadlocks, 9 Mar 2009 10:36 AM
From: United States
did not some fool last week state that the layings off at the free zones were over? do these boobs just speak because they want to hear themselves talk?
Written by: Username, 9 Mar 2009 10:36 AM
From: Dominican Republic
With all the subsidies the Free Zone companies get...
Written by: juanb, 9 Mar 2009 10:39 AM
From: Dominican Republic
I saw an interesting piece on the news the other night. A single woman lost her job. They showed the domino effect that her unemployment caused. Now when her car has a problem she tries to fix it herself (her mechanic has lost that income), she cut out going to the salon and now does her hair herself ( the salon suffers), she doesn't go out to eat anymore ( the restaurant and waiters and waitresses suffer) and on and on. That is what we are now facing.
Written by: TheTruth, 9 Mar 2009 11:40 AM
From: United States, Boston
Pa Lante , Pa lante, Pa lante
Written by: brootto, 9 Mar 2009 11:46 AM
From: United States, South West Florida
those anybody remember a few days ago an article about the free zone being immune to lay off. Bunch of crap and pr and photo op. that all they do.
Written by: time2rize, 9 Mar 2009 12:09 PM
From: Dominican Republic
No more layoffs in Dominican free zones, Capellan says
Economy - 20 February 2009, 1:29 PM

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/....ominican-free-zones-Capellan-says
Written by: BASTA, 9 Mar 2009 3:40 PM
From: Dominican Republic, = Ghetto-SPM-Barrio Blanco
Viva duh PLD
Written by: anthonyC, 9 Mar 2009 11:51 PM
From: United States
Josie are you really that ignorant?

the company makes jeans for the US market. how the heck is it Fernandez's fault?

I will even go one better.

This is a World Wide economic downturn.
How the Hell is the D.R. suppose to combat it? The DR is barely a blip on the World Economic Stage.

They say when the US sneezes Europe gets a Cold. When the US Sneezes the DR gets Lung cancer.
Written by: corky01, 10 Mar 2009 5:55 AM
From: United States
US isn't sneezing - US economy is coughing up blood like it just took some Chinese cough medicine.
Written by: BoloSpaghetti, 10 Mar 2009 9:29 AM
From: Dominican Republic
I think now is the time for the government & the companies in the free zones to seriously consider looking at the way they do business. For too long, companies have come to the DR to take advantage of cheap labor. The government has looked out for the companies, not the employees.
The companies were all built around one aspect - mass cheap labor. Now is the time for the government & these companies to look at Lean manufacturing & semi-automation. These things will make the companies more efficient & ensure future growth, when the economy has a down turn......
Written by: josean, 10 Mar 2009 1:04 PM
From: United States
Time for the Tuesday Cuban Gusano Terrorist Report!

1994: Human Rights Watch/Americas Group issues report stating that Miami Cubans do not tolerate dissident opinions, that Spanish-language radio promotes aggression, and that local government leaders refuse to denounce acts of intimidation.

1994: Two firebombs explode at Replica magazine's office.

1994: Bomb threat to law office of Magda Montiel Davis following her videotaped exchange with Fidel Castro.

Written by: anthonyC, 10 Mar 2009 1:10 PM
From: United States
Thanks Josie.

Makes me proud!!!!!!
Written by: Manhattanite, 10 Mar 2009 6:56 PM
From: United States
wow, anthonyC made a non-snide and interesting comment. josean he didn't deserve to be baited this time!
Written by: josean, 10 Mar 2009 7:01 PM
From: United States
Latin from Manhattan,

Its that he inferred that I inferred it was Lie-onel's fault, which unintentionally I intentionally inferred.
Written by: El_Platano, 12 Mar 2009 3:15 PM
From: United States, Yonkers, NY
It's the electricity. It all goes back to the electricity. Some of the most expensive and unreliable in the world.
Written by: abc200, 13 Mar 2009 7:57 AM
From: United Kingdom
DR could make the same law as Argentina and prohibit the import of secondhand clothes. Then grow some cotton and give everyone discound vouchers for new Dominican clothes. Also make anti-dumping tariffs on clothes from other countries. School uniform could be modified to allow for local organically produced and recycled origin cloths to be used.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/clothes/background.cfm
DR cotton production is low - surely some more land could be found for organic cotton?
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph....pro-agriculture-cotton-production
The military could also use local production.
S.
Written by: gouletcolonial This user is banned, 14 Mar 2009 5:56 AM
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
The military could also use local production.and pick it as well
Written by: abc200, 14 Mar 2009 10:12 AM
From: United Kingdom
GC could also help the DR pick its way out of crisis.
Perhaps a govrnment minister with responsibilites for cotton and other fibre growing, processing and manufacturing. So garments can have organic completely originated in DR label.
Eli Whitney would be proud! A famous American!
S.
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