Scotland’s First Minister is facing mounting political pressure to save the jobs of dozens of disabled workers at a factory set to lose out on Scottish Government contracts.
Staff at Haven Products in Larbert are facing an uncertain future after they were told their jobs could be at risk when the company’s long-standing contracts to make NHS nurses' uniforms and digitally archive Scottish Government documents end this year.
The factory in Stirlingshire employs 60 people, 47 of which are registered disabled with conditions such as autism and Asperger's Syndrome.
Last month, The Herald reported that all of the workers now fear life without the ability to earn an income, and the knock-on effects it will have.
Politicians in Scotland have now taken notice in light of the efforts by the factories own workers to make the public more aware of the situation.
MSPs from First Minister, John Swinney's, own Scottish Nationalist Party - Michael Matheson and Michelle Thomson - have now written to Scottish Government cabinet ministers about the threat to the jobs of disabled workers at Haven Products.
The threat of the job losses has also galvanised cross-party support with Labour, Tory and Green MSPs and MPs visiting Haven Products to see how the job losses would be felt across the community.
Former Scottish Labour Leader Richard Leonard emphasised the importance of Haven Products to the community and economy, pointing to a plaque commemorating the factory's opening in 2015 by then-Deputy First Minister John Swinney.
Mr Leonard added: “Nine years on, he should use his power as First Minister to step in and save these jobs.”
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Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr has also contacted all local MSPs to build a united front in defence of the workers.
He said: “I would like to arrange a meeting with the Minister for Employment and Investment to lay out my concerns and explore a resolution. I believe we will most likely find a resolution if we work together.”
The urgency of the situation has also been highlighted by Jeremy Balfour and Pam Duncan-Glancy, convener and deputy convener of the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on Disability, who have written to Scottish Government Ministers urging them to prevent what they describe as a potentially “devastating circumstance where disabled people are left unemployed.
Head of Haven Products Karen Motherwell thanked everyone who has supported their campaign so far, and re-emphasised the impact the loss of the Scottish Government contracts would have on workers.
She said: “Almost all our staff are either disadvantaged or vulnerable and unless the Scottish Government moves to have the contracts re-instated, this will have a devastating effect on our disabled workers.
“We really need to save these jobs and we've had a huge amount of support from politicians and the local community in our campaign to keep the factory open.
“It seems counter-productive to the economy that not continuing with these contracts would mean our staff losing their jobs and having to claim social security benefits.
“As a charity, we have always appreciated and applauded the Scottish Government's commitment to helping people with a disability into employment, but by not renewing these contracts, disabled people will be forced out of work.”
In response, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Haven Products Ltd has done so much to provide employment for disabled and disadvantaged adults in Scotland.
“Scottish Enterprise has offered the firm advice and support with their current and future business model and we strongly encourage Haven to engage with them.
“All new contracts will be considered carefully, in line with subsidy control measures, to ensure value for money for taxpayers in Scotland.”
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