Canada-based aerospace group Bombardier is planning to cut 95 more jobs this year in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as part of an ongoing redundancy programme.

The job cut excludes the company’s previous plan to cut 630 positions this year.  

In February, Bombardier announced its plan to axe 1,080 posts in Northern Ireland over two years, downsizing nearly 20% of its workforce in the country.

However, an initial total of 580 redundancies were proposed this year.  Under its global restructuring plan, the company intends to cut 7,000 jobs worldwide.

“This announcement brings to 735 the number of workers at the former Shorts site who are set to lose their jobs this year."

Bombardier was quoted by BBC as saying: "The overall figure of 1,080 has not changed.

"However, we now expect up to another 95 employees will leave this year instead of next.

"We appreciate that this is very difficult time."

Last month, Bombardier’s chief executive Alain Bellemare warned about the company’s struggle with ‘a soft market’ and the company’s plan to accelerate the speed of redundancies in Northern Ireland, reported Irish Times.

Local trade unions, including Unite the Union, have also expressed concern over Bombardier’s proposed job cuts.

Unite the Union regional coordinating officer Davy Thompson said: “This announcement brings to 735 the number of workers at the former Shorts site who are set to lose their jobs this year.

“Unite is calling for urgent talks with Stormont ministers to discuss what has been an ongoing issue, with the consistent theme of closures and redundancies over the past two years.”

Bombardier currently employs more than 31,200 people worldwide in its aerospace division.