Bearmach Ltd

Part of 5. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:09 pm on 21 September 2022.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:09, 21 September 2022

I think there are two different questions there. Firstly, it's a point that is worth reflecting that agency workers, unless they've got acquired employment rights—. And there is a process; I remember doing this when I was an employment lawyer. If you've been there long enough, you can claim permanent status. Otherwise, they won't have redundancy protection and they won't be entitled to payments, because they won't have acquired employment rights and, indeed, the length of employment service. 

When it then comes to the challenge more broadly over the automotive sector, we do still see the automotive sector as a significant part of the Welsh economy, moving forward. It's obviously vulnerable to some of the changes that are taking place, and in particular the changes in our trading relationships outside of the UK, in particular our trading relationships with Europe. That has made a number of parts of the sector more vulnerable. But it will be a period of change for the sector, and there are opportunities, moving forward, in new methods of propulsion with the significant strength we still maintain here as part of the economy, and, indeed, part of the broader manufacturing picture.

I'll be meeting members of the Welsh automotive sector next week at the Welsh Automotive Forum Autolink conference. I've met them on a number of occasions, looking at challenges that the sector faces. We weren't aware in advance of the fairly immediate site closure. I've met with my own officials, and there weren't early warning signals. There wasn't engagement with the company in the longer term or even the short term in advance; we were aware of the closure when it took place. So, my officials have offered to engage with the company, as, indeed, you'll see; there's been official engagement through my department with the Working Wales service. As there is more information, I'm happy to share it with Members who have an interest.