Merck announces it will lay off 113 at its Kenilworth facility

Jessica Perry//August 2, 2013

Global pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. Inc., based in the Whitehouse Station section of Readington, will lay off 113 workers at its Kenilworth division effective Oct. 1, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor.Companies are required by law to notify state labor officials of large-scale layoffs in advance, known as WARN notices, to provide adequate retraining opportunities for affected employees.

The layoffs were expected.

“Since we merged with Schering-Plough, this has been part of our operations to consolidate manufacturing around the world,” spokeswoman Lainie Keller told The Star-Ledger.

Merck acquired properties in Kenilworth after its acquisition of Schering-Plough in 2009. Merck is in the process of restructuring, with plans to move its global headquarters from Whitehouse Station to Summit in 2015.