Workers face extension to takeover bid

DISABLED workers face six more weeks in jobs limbo as secret bidders for Remploy factories are given more time to make formal takeover bids.

The 90-day consultation on the fate of the 36 plants closes today, with 65 expressions of interest on the table. Edinburgh’s Remploy employs 28 staff, 27 of whom are disabled.

However, the Remploy board has confirmed that those interested will have until the end of August to submit formal bids for threatened factories.

Phil Davies, national secretary of the GMB union, warned that Government promises to give full redundancy pay for staff let go by new owners had created a “charter for asset strippers”.

“Last Friday the Government announced that if any organisation purchased a Remploy factory and wanted to make disabled people redundant, the Government would pay in full the cost of redundancy payments,” he said.

He urged ministers not to turn their backs on Remploy by closing factories.

“We believe that Remploy could be the jewel in the crown for the whole of Europe in the employment of disabled people,” Mr Davies added.