Sinn Fein has promised to support workers at a firm which manufactures equipment for the oil industry.

Schlumberger announced plans to close its facility in Newtownabbey, putting over 200 jobs at risk.

The firm blamed an ongoing slump in the sector.

Sinn Féin's Employment and Workers Rights spokesperson Declan Kearney said: "The planned closure of the Schlumberger plant will have a devastating impact on the 220 workers directly affected and their families. 

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"It is also a huge blow to the north's already beleaguered manufacturing industry so every effort should be made to avert this closure.

"Schlumberger is a highly profitable global company.

"The suspicion is that the company's global management have decided to close the Newtownabbey site to relocate these jobs into a lower-wage economy, as part of a drive to maximise global profits.

"Local workers and their families are being made the victims of that agenda.

"Unite secured the backing of the workers in their efforts to overturn this decision and save the jobs at Newtownabbey. Sinn Féin will do all in our power to support their campaign."

(CD/LM)