A Plaid Cymru MS has called on the First Minister to ensure that all possible help is being given to 100 workers being made redundant from a Newport semiconductor plant.

Peredur Owen Griffiths MS was speaking following the news that 100 people are being made redundant at Newport Wafer Fab by owners Nexperia.

Uncertainty has surrounded the facility ever since the Tory Government ordered Chinese-owned Nexperia to sell its 86% stake in the facility due to national security concerns.

Peredur, who has met with workers and visited the plant, called on the Welsh Government to do all they can to support the workers earmarked for redundancy and support the sale of the site before further job losses are made.

He said: “Workers at the plant have told my office that they accept that nothing can stop these 100 redundancies and nothing will change Westminster’s mind over Nexperia’s ownership.

“The focus now must be on supporting on those being made redundant to ensure they are given the training and support they need to find alternative employment.

“The focus must also be on safeguarding the remaining 461 good quality jobs and the many more that reply on this facility through the extended supply chain.

“The last 12 months has shown that the UK Government cares little about the facility and its workers so what practical support can you offer to achieve the two stated objectives?”

Peredur also said: “The way that Westminster has behaved towards Newport Wafer Fab demonstrates the importance of Wales having control over all of its economic levers.

“Until we have those powers, decisions will continue to be made that run counter to the interests of our economy and our communities.”

In response, the First Minister said that support is being given to workers and that Government officials have been in Taiwan recently following up leads as far as the semi-conductor industry is concerned.

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