Further cuts at cosmetic factory

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A cosmetics factory which announced nearly 100 redundancies earlier this month has said that a further 150 temporary staff will lose their jobs.

Creative Outsourcing Solutions International (Cosi) of Maesteg, near Bridgend, say workers on temporary contracts will not have them renewed.

Plans to create 300 jobs as part of a £9m investment have also been shelved, the company announced.

Cosi has blamed the losses on a "disappointing" summer's trading.

The announcement comes the day before production at a car parts factory on the same site as Cosi is due to end.

Cooper Standard, which employed 600 people two years ago, will spend the rest of the year winding their operation down.

The company is experiencing very serious challenges. We are fighting for our long-term survival Stephen Bracegirdle, Cosi

Stephen Bracegirdle, the chief operating officer at Cosi, said that trading problems in the summer had made it "a very serious loss making company".

A contract with a major US manufacturer was also not being renewed next year, he said.

"The company is experiencing very serious challenges. We are fighting for our long term survival," he said.

"We are fighting to keep the jobs in Maesteg. The workforce is rallying round in support.

"We are looking for improvements in the near term."

The company is currently in a 30-day consultation period with staff on the site over the redundancies.

Beauty products

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said they were very disappointed by the announcement and senior officials were maintaining daily contact to monitor the situation.

Earlier this year, Cosi announced it intended to expand its base at Maesteg by adding new hi-tech equipment and increasing production over three years.

The expansion had been supported by the assembly government with regional selective assistance money.

Cosi, who bought the plant from Revlon in 2001, currently employs around 600 people.

It makes beauty products on contract for companies including Unilever and Body Shop.