On Friday 10 May, Gerald Jones MP and Dawn Bowden AM met with Hoover Candy Ltd representatives at the company’s Merthyr Tydfil factory, about its plans to cut 45 jobs at the site and centralise some of its operations to its Warrington offices.

Hoover Candy, whose parent company is now China-based Haier Electronics, is holding an ongoing consultation with staff and staff representatives about 45 job roles, which could be cut by spring 2020 if the plans go ahead.

Although the company would not facilitate the meeting with staff which Gerald and Dawn had organised, the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney MP and AM are making alternative arrangements to meet affected staff directly to discuss concerns.

Hoover Candy is also currently in contact with the Welsh Government, which will offer support and advice for staff should the redundancy plans move forward following the consultation.

In more positive news, the company confirmed at the meeting that distribution operations will remain in Merthyr Tydfil, and that it is currently investing in the site’s warehousing facilities as part of its business plan.

In a joint statement, Gerald and Dawn said:

“Earlier today, we met representatives of Hoover Candy Ltd at the company’s factory in Merthyr Tydfil to discuss the current consultation about job losses at the site.

The consultation involves 45 job roles, and we are currently making arrangements to meet affected staff directly.

“We understand that consultation about redundancies is a sensitive and upsetting issue for those involved, and we hope to speak with any staff who would like to meet with us in the near future.”