Palama Meat Co., the state's largest meat-processing business, plans to lay off as many as 38 workers today, according to a notice filed with the state.

The Palama Meat layoffs are the latest in a slew of job terminations this year, as companies struggle with higher operating costs and a sluggish economy. The Kapolei-based company said it will notify the affected workers this afternoon. No reason was given for the layoffs.

William Loose, the company president, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Palama Meat sent the termination notice to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations yesterday, saying it plans to terminate between 32 and 38 of its roughly 200 employees. It asked the state to assist the employees who will lose their jobs. Department spokesman James Hardway said the state likely will activate a "rapid response team" to help the workers, as has been the practice in many other layoffs this year.

Palama Meat was established in 1952 and owns brands such as May's and Hawaiian Warrior beef jerky. In 1998, Palama Meat merged with distributor H&W and two years later they consolidated the processing and warehousing operations in Kapolei.

In April 2003, Palama Meat and H&W filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing financial trouble caused by an expensive expansion followed by disappointing sales after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the start of the war in Iraq.

In June 2004, a bankruptcy judge approved the $14 million sale of the two firms to Loose and his California-based investment company, which focuses on acquiring and restructuring distressed businesses.

At the time, the two companies employed 150 workers and supplied more than 1,000 accounts.

Other companies that have announced major layoffs this year include Aloha Airlines (2,050), Maui Land & Pineapple (274), Hawaii Medical Center (169), Molokai Ranch (120), Weyerhaeuser Co. (85) and The Honolulu Advertiser (81).