KEKAHA — Global agribusiness company Syngenta AG has laid off nearly two dozen employees on Kauai.
Syngenta Hawaii spokesman Mark Phillipson told The Garden Island newspaper Monday’s layoffs of 23 people are a part of a company-wide effort to cut $1 billion in costs by 2018.
He says those affected are at all levels of the company from top management downward.
Affected employees have been given a minimum of three months salary. Their medical benefits will be paid through the end of the summer. Those with the company longer will receive an additional two weeks salary for every year of service.
Syngenta has asked WorkWise Kauai to help those laid off find new jobs.
Syngenta is one of several companies researching and developing genetically engineered crops in Hawaii.