The company confirmed the cuts following the conclusion of a 45-day consultation process between management and employees.
“It is disappointing that 230 job losses have now been confirmed at the 2 Sisters plant in Coupar Angus,” said a Scottish government spokeswoman. “This will be a particularly worrying time for the workforce and their families.”
In December last year, 2 Sisters announced plans to work with the Scottish government and the National Farmers Union of Scotland to avert redundancies at the site soon after they were first proposed.
The Scottish government had maintained regular contact with senior managers at 2 Sisters, trades union representatives and suppliers to support affected workers and find them alternative employment, said the Scottish government spokeswoman.
She stressed its Partnership Action for Continuing Employment Scheme would continue to work with those hit by the redundancies.
Sustainable poultry industry
On a broader level, the Scottish government would continue to work towards a more sustainable poultry industry for Scotland through its Poultry Plan for Scotland.
In a statement on the redundancies, a spokeswoman for 2 Sisters Food Group said: “2 Sisters Food Group has worked with the Unite union to agree a new shift pattern which has enabled the reduction in numbers to be kept to a minimum and has secured jobs for 421 people at the site.
“At the start of the consultation it was envisaged that there could be a requirement to reduce staff numbers by up to 260 (from the existing workforce of 651) but this has been kept to 230.
“All employees have been offered the opportunity to apply for voluntary redundancy and it is anticipated that approximately half of the reduction in workforce will come from voluntary redundancies.”
Workers were balloted on new shift patterns and changes to terms and conditions on January 6 and 78% voted in favour of the changes, she said. “It is anticipated that with effect from w/c February 16 the new shift pattern will be implemented with the reduced workforce.”