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250 Unilever jobs at risk in Swansea and Bridgend 450 Unilever jobs at risk in Flintshire, Swansea and Bridgend
(40 minutes later)
Consumer goods giant Unilever is planning to shut its sites in Swansea and Bridgend, putting 250 jobs at risk. Consumer goods giant Unilever is planning to shut its sites in Flintshire, Swansea and Bridgend, putting 450 jobs at risk.
An office in Ewloe, Flintshire, could also close and the work transferred to another area. The company said 200 jobs could go at the firm's IT centre in Ewloe and 400 other posts transferred to Merseyside.
It also plans to close a plant in Slough, Berkshire, which would take the total number of planned job losses to 800. Around 225 jobs could be lost through the closure of its Swansea factory, and 25 at a distribution site in Bridgend.
However, Unilever said it would be investing £40m in its biggest UK factory in Port Sunlight on the Wirral. The firm also plans to shut a plant in Slough, Berkshire, bringing the total number of losses to 800.
More to follow. The company has a total workforce of around 7,200 and makes products ranging from Ben and Jerry's ice cream, Marmite, PG Tips and Pot Noodles to Dove soap, Vaseline, Persil and Domestos.
It said the proposed changes could take effect by the end of 2013 and would be made up of 500 direct job losses and around 300 contractor and third party jobs.
Outsourced
The Swansea factory makes personal care products, while in Bridgend the company has a distribution site.
Some of the jobs in Ewloe could be outsourced to Unilever's IT centre in Bangalore, India.
Reviews of the proposals are expected to be concluded in the autumn, with a final decision taken in September.
However, Unilever said it would be investing £40m in its largest UK factory in Port Sunlight, Merseyside.
Amanda Sourry, chairman of Unilever UK and Ireland, said: "Like many companies today, Unilever faces the challenge of creating growth opportunities against a backdrop of very tough economic conditions in Europe.
"While Unilever is growing well in the UK and globally, it will always be necessary to make changes which raise our game and ensure our continued success.
"We believe these proposals would substantially strengthen our platform for long-term growth and competitiveness.
"The proposals announced today will be reviewed thoroughly and the outcome shared with our employees as early as possible."
Ms Sourry said the firm was fully committed to conducting all review and consultation processes properly and responsibly in order to provide clarity and certainty as soon as possible.
'Devastating blow'
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside and Local Government Minister, who constituency includes Ewloe, said he was "deeply saddened" to hear the news from Unilever.
"I will continue to work tirelessly with representatives from Unilever, my colleagues in the Welsh government and from the staff's union, Unite, to provide whatever support we can to the staff affected," he said.
Business Minister Edwina Hart said the company's announcement would be a "devastating blow for Unilever's workforce and their families in Wales".
She added: "Officials from Welsh government recently met with senior executives from Unilever to discuss the impact of the company's plans in Wales.
"We asked the company to fully consider the range of support offered to businesses by the Welsh Government and invited them to work together with us to implement a more sustainable solution for Wales by seeking to maintain current operations at its Welsh sites."