By Marina MelloThirteen Bermudians have lost their jobs at Bacardi Ltd as part of what the company called a “reorganisation” of its Bermuda operations.The layoffs announced to staff in stages this past Thursday, Friday and yesterday, are not effective until after Christmas.It is understood they affect positions “across the board” including in the areas of administration, records management and finance. Several of the employees have been with Bacardi for as long as 15 years.The cuts follow the loss of at least 100 jobs through confirmed layoffs in Bermuda over the past year.A spokeswoman for Bermuda-based Bacardi said those layed off will all be given “generous severance packages”.The largest privately held spirits company in the world, Bacardi employs 75 people in Bermuda and was one of the first international companies on the island, establishing its worldwide headquarters in Bermuda in 1972.“Like any company with operations and offices around the globe, and especially one with more than 200 brands and labels operating in more than 100 countries, we continually review all aspects of our operations, processes and efficiencies,” Bacardi spokeswoman Patricia Neal told The Royal Gazette.“Such is quite common for a company of our size - employing more than 6,000 people, operating 27 manufacturing facilities in 16 countries on four continents, and selling in more than 100 markets globally.“While these changes don’t occur until the end of December, affected employees will be granted generous severance packages including employment and career counselling and outplacement services.”Ms Neal said eight of the employees layed off are at or near retirement age.“They will be offered enhanced pension and benefit packages,” she said.” In addition, Bacardi will work with employees to secure other employment opportunities within the Bacardi group of companies, when possible.”Ms Neal added: “Bacardi is proud to have an outstanding and dedicated work force in Bermuda and this action does not reflect on the quality of our operations or the calibre of our people. We thank all our employees for their continued dedication and professionalism.Bacardi earned the No 2 spot in the Bottom Line’s third annual Top 10 Employers That Stand Out in Bermuda 2011 survey.The drinks giant has been owned by seven generations of Bacardi family members descendants of the company founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó.The redundancies follow a string of lay-offs across the Island in recent months, with Butterfield Bank laying off 25 employees, law firms Appleby and Conyers Dill & Pearman cutting around a dozen jobs each, and Ace Ltd revealing plans to cut 17 jobs this year.Most recently, at least six staff were let go at Port Royal and Ocean View golf courses, several jobs were lost at a KeyTech company and 21 staff were laid off at fire-hit HWP.