News
27 Remploy Factories to Close
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July 11, 2012 The Fresh Outlook  |
Government confirms the closure of 27 Remploy factories which employ disabled workers, saying the sites can no longer be subsidised.
The UK government has said that the £320m budget for disabled employment services could be spent more effectively in providing personal support to find mainstream work for ex-Remploy staff.
Among the plants closing are those in Aberdare, Abertillery, Merthyr, Swansea and Wrexham. These Welsh factories will loose a total of 189 jobs. The Welsh government says that the closure of five of
Wales’ seven Remploy factories is a “hammer blow” for workers.
Only a few of the Remploy’s factories, which were established following the Second World War as a way to provide sheltered employment for disabled people, are thought to break even financially.
Maria Miller, minister for disabled people, said: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that Remploy workers will receive a comprehensive package of support and guidance to make the transition from government-funded sheltered employment to mainstream jobs.”
The workers of Remploy’s 54 factories are due to stage two 24-hour strikes in protest. Phil Davies, national officer of the GMB union said: “The strikes will go ahead on July 19 and 26 as planned and should be a rallying point giving each local community the opportunity to stand behind these disabled workers who will be facing the scrapheap.”
By Ellie Stansfield
[Image courtesy of BBC North East Wales]
