Christian Peregin
Workers laid off
Woodware Ltd, a chair manufacturer and exporter, yesterday laid off 30 of its 40 employees after the company lost its biggest UK client.
The employees were told the production would now have to be cut by more than 70 per cent.
The company, which operates from a 5,000-square metre factory in the Marsa industrial estate, is the fifth local firm to announce it has been forced to cut production in recent months, as the global economic downturn continues to bite. Yesterday, Britain was officially declared to be in recession.
On Wednesday, employees of Stainless Steel Products Limited were put on a four-day week for the next seven weeks.
Meanwhile, Toly Products laid off 84 workers in October, while Methode Electronics and Hectronic reduced their working week to four days. In November, O-ring producer Trelleborg laid off 25 employees after it also dropped its production line to a four-day week.
A meeting between employees and the management at Woodware yesterday was attended by General Workers' Union's representative Joe Sammut.
The GWU said it hoped to help the dismissed workers seek alternative employment and that it was particularly concerned about the older employees for whom this will be a greater challenge.
The GWU said the employees were appreciative of the union's work and support during this difficult time.
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8 Comments
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Joe Fountain
Jan 24th 2009, 18:33
And who said that Malta would not be effected by the global recession??
lgalea
Jan 24th 2009, 18:20
c.camilleri
With what pay and with what conditions?
Such as Go discharging its workers and employing new ones at much reduced wages and working conditions?
c.camilleri
Jan 24th 2009, 17:33
@j galea. . ' OVER 3,OOO MORE JOBS IN AUGUST' You did not comment on this. It now obvious that you are only interested in the negative side of the picture to hammer at the Govt. Increasing jobs by that figure while over the world we hear only of discharges is encouraging indeed and should be make everyone delighted including you. With gonzipn everything is possible. He is confounding all his political opponents including you.
Ivan Delia
Jan 24th 2009, 16:13
no more plsssssssssssssss !
lgalea
Jan 24th 2009, 14:46
A. Briffa,
I didn't say it was Gonzipn's fault but didn't he say those words before the last general election and give the impression that we have no problems and that everything was fine?
Isn't that called deceiving the people?
David Battistino
Depends upon what type of jobs, whether full time or art time, what wages, what conditions etc. It's one thing having a job just for not appearing on the unemployed statistics and another to have a good secure job. It also depends on whether the job you get is better or far worse than the one you had.
Does it make sense that we are told that the biggest increase was, e.g. in the real estate, renting, business etc when we know how these sectors have been going backwards?
Ask any businessman and real estate agent and they will tell you David.
Simply projecting a feel good factor does not do away with reality when it strikes.
David Battistino
Jan 24th 2009, 11:06
@ IGalea
Did you mispost your comment and wanted to comment under news item ‘Over 3,000 more jobs in August’ above?
@ workers laid off
Kuragg hbieb post tax-xoghol iehor issibu zgur, thallux biss min juza is-sitwazzjoni taghkom ghall-finijiet politici tieghu.
A. Briffa
Jan 24th 2009, 11:03
@ Igalea,
I know what you want to say, but you simply can't keep recalling what is happening in Europe as Gonzipn's fault. As the Nationalists say "Ejjew ghax Alla maghna", i think they'd better now start praying that we don't get any more affected by this recession in foreign countries.
lgalea
Jan 24th 2009, 10:28
Par idejn sodi, ekonomija fid-sod(da)