Seagate Technology (Thailand) Co Ltd has launched the early retirement programme at its manufacturing plant in Nakhon Ratchasima, targeting to trim workforce by 600, according to a human resource official.

Employing over 7,000 workers, the company promised to pay full compensations in line with the labour law.

The official said that if the number of applicants does not reach the target once the early retirement programme ends on January 24, the company would pick more to meet the target.

"We need to lay off some workers due to the global economy which led to a sharp drop in manufacturing orders. The company is running at a loss," he said.

It was reported that earlier this month, the plant laid off 400 manufacturing workers, while backoffice staff's salary was cut 25 per cent.

During October and January, 6 plants in the province have laid off workers or shut down business, affecting 3,000 workers. Before that, the number of the unemployed in the province was 20,000.