Eighteen workers have been let go by Universal Electric due to the global economic downturn, according to a source.The lay-offs are said to have been expected for a while and are apparently “across the board”.“There were apprentices laid off, senior technicians, technicians,” said the source. “There were 18 people being laid off in total. The letters of notice said it was due to the global economic downturn.”Some employees are understood to have received their letters on Friday and others at the start of this week. It is believed the majority are Bermudian.Universal Electric, based on Serpentine Road, was set up in 1965 and is 100 percent Bermudian-owned. It describes itself as the Island's “premier and longest serving electrical contracting company”.The company's chief financial officer Ray DeSilva told The Royal Gazette he was unable to confirm the lay-offs or comment. “It's company policy. That information did not come from us. I don't know where it came from.”* Useful website: www.universal.bm