MP calls on Government to save jobs at Yorkshire- based Haribo
PONTEFRACT MP Yvette Cooper has urged the Government to prevent “hundreds of job losses” at Yorkshire- based sweet manufacturer Haribo.
Yesterday Haribo, which opened a new £ 92m factory and distribution centre in Castleford in 2015, confirmed it had entered into a consultation process with staff regarding redundancies.
Ms Cooper said the “grim” news had been “even more of a blow” for employees who had kept working throughout the coronavirus pandemic. She said Wakefield Council had already set up a team to support the workforce, but “urgent help” was needed from the Government.
“The country is already in recession – we badly need action from Government to prevent things getting worse,” Ms Cooper said. “That means at Haribo we need support to help the workforce, to try to save jobs, and to try to prevent any job losses which
are happening because of new machinery until after the recession is over.”
Haribo confirmed to The Yorkshire Post that proposed changes included ceasing production of MAOAM products, which will be centralised globally.
Managing director of Haribo UK, Jon Hughes, said it needed to respond to “significant rising costs and the demands of a highly competitive market” in order to protect the long- term future of Haribo manufacturing in Yorkshire. “None of these proposals are taken lightly,” he said. “They are driven by the need to secure a sustainable future that will safeguard our proud heritage in Yorkshire and enable continued investment.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We understand this will be difficult news for Haribo’s employees and we stand ready to support them at this uncertain time.
“We have provided far- reaching support for businesses across industries to protect jobs and incomes throughout this crisis.
“Through our Plan for Jobs, we’ve announced a series of measures to protect, support and create jobs, including our £ 2bn Kickstart scheme and doubling the number of frontline work coaches.”