Operations at the Alumina Partners of Jamaica (ALPART) come to a standstill today.

ALPART says while production and mining have ceased a set of workers will remain at the company until May 31.

More than 600 of 950 positions have already been made redundant.

ALPART’s Public Relations Manager, Lance Neita, said the final batch of workers will be sent home in phases.

He says a special team will be rehired in June to continue maintenance and administrative work during the shutdown.

Mr. Neita says that a team will remain at the plant until operations resume.

He says the temporary shutdown is scheduled to go into next year or until market conditions have improved.

Mr. Neita says counselling sessions are now underway for employees who have lost their jobs.

The company had earlier explained that the move is necessary given the continuing severe decline in the global aluminium industry.