North Sea firm Aker Solutions announced yesterday that 50 jobs were at risk in Aberdeen.
Dozens of staff will also be relocated to Reading in England as part of plans to reduce the engineering company’s workforce in the UK.
The technology firm specialises in asset management services including the maintenance and inspection of offshore installations.
Employees moving from Aberdeen will work in a new facility in Reading built as a hub for the research and development of subsea equipment.
The site in Reading will also act as the main manufacturing centre for the firm.
Around 300 Aker employees lost their jobs in the UK as a result of challenging conditions across the oil and gas sector last year.
Aker Solutions confirmed that talks were currently underway with staff representatives on the latest plans for job losses.
A company spokeswoman said: “Aker Solutions yesterday began consultation with employee representatives on reducing its UK workforce capacity primarily within its products division in Aberdeen.
“As part of the consultation, 26 new roles are to be created, primarily in Aberdeen.
“As a result of the process, the workforce may be reduced by around 55.
“In addition, around 50 positions will be relocated from Aberdeen to Aker Solutions’ new subsea technology centre in Reading.”
Union leaders said it continued to be a worrying time for oil workers, adding that morale was at an “all-time low”.
Jake Molloy, RMT Regional Organiser, said: “We are not out of the woods yet and I don’t see any change in that this year despite all the rhetoric about the industry turning a corner.
“We’re still not seeing that coming through.
“There’s a climate of fear right now for what the future holds, whether people will still be in employment this time next year. There are a lot of very worried and anxious people.
“Morale is at an all time low – there is still so much concern on the ground.”
Mr Molloy said oil and gas companies could move operations to other parts of the country due to their global nature.
He added: “It’s the nature of their business. Like many others they are moving into other fields and diversifying.
“Clearly their Reading operation can accommodate them but whether they get people relocating is another matter.
“The businesses are international by nature and that is part and parcel of this job unfortunately.”
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