Talks between ConvaTec and Welsh Government over job losses to continue next week

Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant has welcomed Welsh Government support for redundancy-threatened workers at ConvaTec – the Deeside Industrial Estate-based firm.

Mr Sargeant said he has already received a reply to his letter of Monday to Economy Secretary Ken Skates, in which he asked what support the Welsh Government could provide to workers adversely affected by restructuring at ConvaTec’s Deeside manufacturing plant.

ConvaTec, which employs 500 people at its Deeside facility, has announced plans to make 93 full time positions redundant due to restructuring.

The company began consulting with employees on Monday and plans for the changes to be made by the end of the first quarter of 2017.

The cuts are due to ConvaTec’s plans to make the Deeside facility a centre of excellence for its advanced wound care franchise. Other production currently carried out in Deeside will be moved elsewhere.

Mr Skates wrote to Mr Sargeant to confirm Welsh Government officials have been in discussions with ConvaTec and that the talks will continue next week.

He continued: “We are committed to doing all we can to help the workforce and their families during this very difficult and uncertain time. Officials are working with Flintshire County Council and job centre plus to discuss the redundancies, and to offer the affected employees all the necessary support and assistance.

“My officials are currently working with local companies to explore the potential for recruiting the ConvaTec staff that have been made redundant.”

Carl Sargeant said:

“This is a hugely difficult situation for workers at ConvaTec at a particularly bad time of year. I welcome this very constructive action that the Welsh Government is taking to support the employees.

I hope for the best outcome possible, which would be that all redundancies are filled through voluntary redundancies.

Failing that, I hope that local companies will respond positively to the Welsh Government’s attempts to find alternative work for any workers receiving compulsory redundancy.”