Honda job cuts are to affect 800 UK workers

Car manufacturer’s Honda are set to axe 800 jobs in Swinton

12:01 11 January 2013

The Japanese car makers Honda Motor Company Ltd. are to cut 800 jobs at their Swinton factory it has emerged. It is understood this is due to the current climate of the company’s business across European countries.

By reducing the number of workers at the factory, which employed over 3,000 workers as of 2012, it is thought Honda is hoping to avoid going down the redundancy route.

The car giants said in a statement: “Sustained conditions of low demand in European markets make it necessary to realign Honda's business structure.”
 
The company say that the European demand for cars has fallen by 1million since 2012, although there are no plans in place to cease production in Europe.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said in a statement, which the BBC refer to, that the news was disappointing
 
Its Chief Executive Paul Everitt said: “Despite challenges brought by weak European demand, the longer-term prospects for the UK automotive sector remain good.”

Mr. Everitt added: “We hope that those affected will be able to take advantage of the opportunities we know exist throughout the UK sector and its supply chain.”

Honda’s first UK-made cars were manufactured two decades ago.