LAST UPDATE | 25 Jun 2025

RETAILER PRIMARK, WHICH trades as Penneys in the Republic of Ireland, is planning on cutting around 100 jobs in its headquarters in Dublin.

It’s part of a move that will see around 150 job losses across Ireland, the UK and the US.

It’s also understood that the job losses will impact on HR, finance and procurement roles.

The 100 job losses in Primark’s international headquarters in Dublin is equivalent to around 7% of the 1,500 staff who are based there.

In a statement to The Journal, a Primark spokesperson said there is a need to “evolve” its operating model in order to “best support” its aim to grow internationally.

The spokesperson said that Primark is “proposing that a number of support function activities move to a third party”.

It’s understood that this third party is Accenture in Mumbai – Accenture specialises in IT services and management consulting.

The spokesperson said Primark is beginning a collective consultation and confirmed that this move will “unfortunately impact a number of Primark colleagues primarily in our head office operations”.

The spokesperson added that this is being done in a bid to “explore how resourcing via external partners could help support our operations so that we can focus our own resources on what we do best”.

“These are not decisions we take lightly,” said the spokesperson.

“We understand how difficult this news is for those colleagues affected and we’ll be working to support them as best we can.” 

Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary said supports are available to workers impacted.

He said that his “immediate thoughts are with the workers and their families who are dealing with this difficult news” and that his priority is to ensure affected employees “receive access to all necessary supports without delay”.

Calleary added that a team from the Department will be made available to meet with the workforce to “ensure prompt access to income supports and to support them into alternative employment, or to access appropriate education, training and development options”.

Elsewhere, Labour TD for Dublin Central Marie Sherlock described the job losses as “devastating”.

“I would implore management to explore every avenue available to them to save these jobs and to keep their winning team together,” said Sherlock.

She called on Penney’s to “work in a constructive fashion with the unions locally, recognising the skills and contribution of its workforce and examine any way to save these jobs”.

She remarked that “Penney’s is not just a retailer, it’s a beloved Irish brand deeply woven into the fabric of communities across the country”.

“News that jobs may be outsourced will be very upsetting for staff involved and for their colleagues,” said Sherlock.

“Retaining pathways to employment for these workers is critical and I urge management to do all that they can to protect the jobs at risk.”