Up to 100 workers are to lose their jobs at a Belfast call centre just weeks after being recruited - because not enough people are using their new 118 directory enquiries service, it was announced today.
US company TeleTech said it could not confirm an exact number of job losses, but said it would be fewer than 100.
The north Belfast call centre began taking calls for the new Northern Ireland service only last month.
The firm blamed what it called "this very unusual situation" on a massive shortfall in the number of directory enquiry calls they received.
The rest of the 300-strong workforce at the company will not be affected by the cuts.
North Belfast MP Mr Nigel Dodds said he was seeking a meeting with Ulster economy minister Mr Ian Pearson to discuss the situation.
Mr Dodds said: "Some of the workers had left jobs to come to TeleTech and now they are being made redundant after two weeks.
"This is a very serious aspect of this announcement today and I am very alarmed at the implications for those affected," he said.
The company said the job losses would be kept to a minimum and they would try to redeploy workers within the call centre.
TeleTech, which employs more than 30,000 people worldwide, said it would also try to help those going to find work in other call centres in Northern Ireland.
PA