Plaid Cymru Assembly Members Leanne Wood and Chris Franks spoke during a statement in the Senedd on the Bosch job losses.
The statement by Welsh Economic Development Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones explained the action the Welsh government has taken to prevent job losses at the Bosch plant in Wales.
Mr Jones explained that he had written to the Bosch management in Germany requesting a follow-up meeting to discuss the options facing the company.
The Welsh government will continue to have discussions with the Bosch Plant Council, trade unions, and plant management. The ReAct scheme introduced by Ieuan Wyn Jones will help those workers facing redundancy to find new jobs and enhance their skills.
Leanne Wood AM who once worked at Bosch when she was student commented:
“There is no doubt that this news is a severe blow to people living in the communities around Llantrisant and surrounding Valley areas. In the Rhondda, where I live, everyone knows someone connected with Bosch in one way or another.
“The reality is that Bosch decided to close the plant and relocate to Hungary. There is very little this government can do to affect the global downturn in the automotive industry, and of course, this closure will have big ripples – many people in the area are reliant upon car part firms which have supplied Bosch or other car related manufacturers, and of course, now, the future of some of those firms looks uncertain.
“Bosch was established with £21 million of Welsh Development Agency funding – it was part of a failed inward investment strategy which was designed to provide cash incentives for firms to set up in area which has been decimated by the pit closures.
“The news this week confirms that a strategy which competed on the basis of low wages was never going to be a success. Never again should firms be offered taxpayer’s cash on the basis of cheap labour – after all they will only up sticks as soon as the incentives run out and labour becomes cheaper elsewhere.”
Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks said:
“I know the Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones and his officials have worked hard to retain these jobs. But ultimately Bosch has made up its mind to leave Wales and move to Hungary. This is a hammer blow to the workforce.
“Unlike previous recessions in the 1980s and 90s we have an Assembly and a Welsh government which won’t throw our people onto the scrapheap. We must do everything in our power to assist the workforce. Unfortunately we haven’t got the fiscal or tax powers here at our disposal to encourage businesses to grow and to create more employment. Ministers in London have to ensure they give manufacturing more of a priority. As Ieuan Wyn Jones indicated in his speech in the Cynon Valley nobody is in denial of the challenges we face. I look forward to a statement on the economic renewal programme.
“I am pleased that the Minister had made representations with senior Bosch management in Germany to determine if there are opportunities to attract future investment at Miskin. I am seeking assurances to ensure that the workers are offered a decent redundancy package.”
