Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Leader, Councillor Russell Roberts, has expressed his deep disappointment at the announcement by Bosch that it plans to phase out production at its plant in Miskin, resulting in its closure and substantial job losses.
Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf, County Borough Councillor Russell Roberts said:
“We are deeply disappointed with this news, which comes at an extremely difficult time for the economy following on the back of previous job losses in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“The immediate area around Llantrisant and Pontyclun has already seen hundreds of people lose their jobs at high profile companies such as L’Oreal, Staedtler and the Serious Food Company. This latest announcement from Bosch really is another terrible blow to the local economy.”
“Many of the Bosch workforce will be residents of our County Borough and this will be a devastating blow for them. We understand that around 800 jobs could be lost over a phased withdrawal of operations at Miskin.”
“I have written to the First Minister to ensure that the Welsh Assembly Government is doing all it can to help the situation and try and avoid this scenario of substantial job losses. However, we recognise that this is essentially a commercial decision by Bosch.”
“If these job losses cannot be avoided, I have asked that all available sources of support are made available to employees to help them find alternative employment or access training and other forms of assistance.”
“In the longer term we will be seeking to meet with the new First Minister to highlight the continued haemorrhaging of jobs, and, of more concern, highly skilled ones, from the Rhondda Cynon Taf economy. The scale of these losses really does now demand a concerted effort and focus from the Assembly Government, as they have done for other parts of Wales and I will be working to secure that support as a priority.”
