Car parts factory loses 60 posts

Workers at the plant were told of the job losses at a meeting on Friday.

A car components factory in Llanelli has blamed the global economic downturn for the loss of 60 jobs.

Staff at Calsonic Kansei, which employs more than 500 people, have been told around 40 direct employees and 20 support staff will go.

The company said the decision was taken with regret and it was working with its trade unions to minimise the impact.

It said it had secured substantial new business from Nissan and Land Rover but that would not start until 2009.

President and chief operating officer James Davies said: "It is with regret that Calsonic Kansei has made an announcement to its employees of a redundancy programme at the Llanelli site.

Order reduction

"This is a direct result of a reduction in volume orders by our customers and the current global economic uncertainty affecting the automotive industry.

"The company is actively working with its trade unions on site to try to minimise the impact of the downturn and to find ways to avoid where possible the reductions.

"The effects of the global economic uncertainty has come at an unfortunate time especially in the light of the recent positive news that the company has won substantial new business for new Nissan and Land Rover vehicles."

But he said those orders were not due to start until the next financial year.

"This was extremely good news for the company and its employees and will go some way towards securing the future for the Llanelli Plant and the employees who continue to work there," added Mr Davies.