Zimmer Biomet: Deliberate closure of Bridgend plant leaves greater than 500 jobs in danger

More than 500 jobs are in danger after a healthcare agency introduced it intends to stop manufacturing at a producing plant in Bridgend.

Zimmer Biomet, which employs 540 folks on the website in south Wales, supplies medical provides for joint reconstruction, bone and skeletal restore, sports drugs, backbone and dental reconstruction.

The Welsh authorities described the deliberate closure as “extremely disappointing news”.

In an announcement, the corporate introduced a proposal to stop manufacturing on the plant.

They mentioned native staff leaders have met with union representatives and workers.

A session will now start to have a look at options and “how to limit” job losses.

Maria Silva, plant director at Zimmer Biomet Bridgend, mentioned the corporate was “committed to treating people with dignity and respect” and aimed to be “as transparent as possible throughout the consultation”.

“Our focus is on maintaining a robust supply chain and reliable delivery to our customers,” she added.

“If a decision is taken to proceed, we have planned how to transfer production safely and effectively to other locations in Zimmer Biomet’s global network.”

The firm mentioned the announcement wouldn’t have an effect on staff members in its UK business and analysis & improvement groups or on the Bridgend business distribution centre.

Zimmer Biomet mentioned it stays “committed to customers, patients and team members in the UK”.

The Welsh authorities’s economic system minister, Vaughan Gething, mentioned the information was “deeply concerning” for workers and “the wider community”.

“The Welsh government is now engaging with the company to understand the rationale for this decision and explore any options that exist to protect these jobs,” he mentioned.

“Our priority now is to support the staff affected by today’s announcement.

“We will probably be working carefully with Bridgend County Borough Council, the Department for Work and Pensions and the plant’s commerce union to make sure workers obtain the assist they want.”

The Welsh Conservatives said the news was “past disappointing”.

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The chief of Bridgend County Borough Council, Cllr Huw David, mentioned the information had come as a “complete shock”.

“Zimmer Biomet is a major employer across Bridgend County Borough, and this news has come as a complete shock not only to the company’s skilled and loyal workforce, but to the local authority as well,” he mentioned.