Manufacturing Job Losses Are A Hammer Blow For Welsh Economy

12.00.00am GMT Wed 16th Feb 2005

The loss of 100 manufacturing jobs at a factory in his South East Wales constituency have been dubbed "a hammer blow" by AM Mike German.

The Trico Factory, just outside Pontypool, currently employs 400. The company is retaining its Assembly and distribution arms, but axing 100 jobs in manufacturing. Instead it will ship in components from Texas and Asia.

Mr German said: "This decision is a hammer blow to a workforce that has given excellent service to Trico. My worry now is that if action isn't taken soon we will lose the Assembly plant as well.

"The lesson for Wales is that we need to move up the manufacturing chain so we do more value added work. The Welsh Assembly Government must ensure that it offers assistance to those companies that are looking to move up the supply chain. If that is not done we will continue to leech jobs out of Wales to parts of the world with lower wages."

Trico received a Regional Selective Assistance grant from the Assembly Government in 2001. Mr German will be seeking confirmation that this announcement is not in breach of conditions attached to the grant.