Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
The Welsh Assembly is to cut at least 250 jobs from its department for the economy. This will reduce the number of civil servants it employs by approximately a quarter, mainly via early retirement, voluntary redundancy and departmenal transfers, in line with the economic renewal programme outlined by the Deputy First Minister recently, although the cuts are reportedly not linked to the UK government's spending cuts. It is thought that further cuts will come across other departments once the Treasury decides on its budget.
Concern about these plans has been expressed by unions, including the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), which represents many rank and file civil servants. A PCS spokesperson said: "We are concerned about the sheer scale of the cuts and the likely effects on workload and work-life balance for staff...We will be meeting with [assembly government] management shortly to improve opportunities for displaced staff across all of Wales, especially in areas where there is little alternative work at this moment, particularly at the more senior levels."
An assembly government spokesperson said "We already have in place a number of schemes to manage the change including voluntary severance, early retirement and internal recruitment and redeployment to vacant posts across the Welsh Assembly Government."
CBI Wales director David Rosser asserted that the reduction in jobs followed the assembly government's new strategy regarding economic growth. He said: "A less interventionist approach will require less staff. Leaner times for both the public and private sectors in Wales mean tough decisions have to be made...We have every sympathy with the affected members of staff. I'm sure the assembly government, like any good employer, will do whatever it can to help the affected individuals find alternative employment."
No indication was given as to when the job losses would be completed, or how many staff would face direct dismissal.
Eurofound (2010), Welsh Assembly Department for the Economy, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 70750, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/70750.
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