EU cash could help redundant Jaguar Workers says local MEP (West Bromwich and Warley Liberal Democrats)

West Bromwich and Warley Liberal Democrats <info@westbromwichandwarleylibdems.org.uk>

EU cash could help redundant Jaguar Workers says local MEP

January 14, 2009 12:00 AM
Originally published by West Midlands Liberal Democrats

Liz Lynne MEP. Local Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has today called on the Government to support plans by the European Commission to reform the EU´s Globalisation Adjustment Fund which would allow the Government to apply for EU money to directly support workers made redundant by the Jaguar Land Rover Group.

Liz, who is Vice- President of the Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, supported the formation of the Globalisation Adjustment fund and is now backing proposed changes to the scheme that would enable the UK Government to apply for financial aid to go towards training programmes for laid off workers.

Speaking today Liz said

"The news of yet more redundancies is a bitter blow for hundreds of hard working people already struggling in what are difficult economic times and I am actively investigating what EU money may be available to help out.

"I wholeheartedly back plans by the European Commission to lower the threshold required for aid applications to the EU´s Globalisation Adjustment Fund as the money from this could go directly into training programmes for laid off workers.

"The Government must now back plans to reform this fund when they come before EU Member States next week and immediately put in an application for aid if this is possible.

"Gordon Brown's reaction to the job losses today, whereby redundant workers will be able to use job centre plus are woefully inadequate as this is an existing service."