JERUSALEM, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Some 250 workers of Israel's Teva Pharmaceutical, the world's largest generic drugmaker, launched a strike on Sunday to protest against the debt-laden company's plan to sell the plant.

Israeli-based Teva announced eight months ago that it intends to sell medical equipment plant "Migada" in the north city of Kiryat Shmona, as part of its streamlining program worldwide.

Teva has promised the workers that the plant will not be closed because it is profitable, but the workers still fear for their future.

The plant's workers were saved from the company's plan, which announced at the end of last year closure of factories and mass layoffs.

Five months ago, Teva was still considering the sale of the northern factory, as well as the logistic center in the town of Shoham in central Israel, but the company announced that both would not be closed.

Meanwhile, Teva announced the closure of its plant in the southern city of Ashdod, and the workers in Kiryat Shmona fear that their fate will be similar.

The General Federation of Labor in Israel "Histadrut" said that it supports the workers' strike and added that "we regret that Teva management does not understand that in far places such as Kiryat Shmona, the employment alternative for workers is almost non-existent."

Teva said that they are working to sell the plant as a live business that ensures the continuity of the employees, as part of the reorganization process.