South Wales Central AM, Andrew RT Davies, has expressed his concern and anger at the news that Tesco plans to close its Cardiff Customer Engagement Centre.
The centre, located in Llanishen, employs 1,100 people, and the closure comes just months after Barclays announced 180 jobs would be lost at its mortgage centre in the area.
The decision is part of a wider restructuring by Tesco – and under the plans the centre’s operations would move to a separate site in Dundee.
Responding to the news in the National Assembly for Wales, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates confirmed he had only heard about the decision 45 minutes before it was announced.
Davies criticised the Welsh Government’s response, calling it a “damning indictment” of the Welsh Government’s record on jobs and called on the Cabinet Secretary to respond proactively to safeguard the jobs at risk.
Davies said:
“It is bitterly disappointing and concerning that Tesco plans to close its Cardiff call centre, putting 1,100 jobs at risk.
“It is simply scandalous that the Cabinet Secretary only found out about the decision 45 minutes before it was announced – when the Welsh Government should be far better connected to such businesses making such a major decision.
“This could be the biggest single loss of jobs in Wales since 2009, and will be a huge blow for the employees and their families and the South Wales economy.
“I have requested a meeting with Tesco about the decision, and I call on the Cabinet Secretary to take the initiative to try and safeguard the jobs at risk and develop a far stronger strategy to create and protect jobs in Wales.”
Notes to editors:
Andrew RT Davies has submitted an emergency question to the Presiding Officer for consideration this afternoon.