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| Jobs blow for 275 at two plants | |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Up to 155 jobs could be lost at a factory which makes chemicals for the medical technology industry. | |
| GE Healthcare says over the next year to 18 months they are to stop making radiochemicals at their site in Whitchurch, Cardiff, which employs 420. | |
| It hopes to replace the jobs with up to 150 new biotechnology research posts but not all will be redeployed. | |
| Meanwhile, another 120 job losses have been confirmed at the Budelpak COSI cosmetics factory in Maesteg. | |
| Almost the entire remaining workforce will be out of work on Friday. | |
| The decision follows unsuccessful attempts to find a buyer for the factory, which went into administration at the end of November, laying off 263 workers. | |
| Just 23 people are being kept on at the plant, an employer in Bridgend county since the 1960s. | |
| Alistair Wardell, from the administrators Grant Thornton, said on Wednesday: "Unfortunately we have had no choice but to take these measures. | Alistair Wardell, from the administrators Grant Thornton, said on Wednesday: "Unfortunately we have had no choice but to take these measures. |
| "We have maintained a regular dialogue with workforce representatives, the relevant trade union and local agencies, while we sought to secure a purchaser. | "We have maintained a regular dialogue with workforce representatives, the relevant trade union and local agencies, while we sought to secure a purchaser. |
| "We continue to do everything we can to ensure the fullest support for affected staff at this difficult time." | "We continue to do everything we can to ensure the fullest support for affected staff at this difficult time." |
| Meanwhile, GE Healthcare said its decision to stop producing radiochemicals came after a "comprehensive review". | |
| A spokesman said: "The employees concerned at the site were informed yesterday and the changes will be phased in slowly over the next 12 to 18 months." | |
| The two announcements came as official statistics released on Wednesday show that unemployment in Wales has risen by 14,000 in the three months between August and October. | |
| The total number of those out of work now stands at 94,000, a rate of 6.6%. | The total number of those out of work now stands at 94,000, a rate of 6.6%. |
| Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said it was a "bleak winter" for nearly 100,000 families. | Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said it was a "bleak winter" for nearly 100,000 families. |
| "Despite numerous economic summits and countless initiatives ministers seem to have no idea how to stop rising unemployment," she said. | "Despite numerous economic summits and countless initiatives ministers seem to have no idea how to stop rising unemployment," she said. |
| "Wales is being hit harder than any other part of the United Kingdom in this economic downturn. As a consequence it will take longer to recover from it." | "Wales is being hit harder than any other part of the United Kingdom in this economic downturn. As a consequence it will take longer to recover from it." |
| Meanwhile, newspaper and magazine distributor Smiths News is to relocate its business from Cardiff and Bridgend with a £1m investment in Newport. | Meanwhile, newspaper and magazine distributor Smiths News is to relocate its business from Cardiff and Bridgend with a £1m investment in Newport. |
| It will take over the old LG Electronics factory in February and the distribution centre will also include a recycling facility. | It will take over the old LG Electronics factory in February and the distribution centre will also include a recycling facility. |