JCB announces almost 400 job losses

JCB has announced a further 398 redundancies as it reduces production at UK factories by 34% for the last two months of the year and for the first quarter of 2009.

The plant manufacturer has already announced over 700 job losses this year but said the extreme deterioration in business levels and confidence around the world has lead to a significant reduction in orders.

As a result JCB is cutting 297 shop floor jobs and 101 staff posts, but said it will retain 336 shop floor employees in anticipation of an upturn in activity levels during the second quarter of 2009.

The company said this reciprocates the support shown by employees in voting for a 34 hour week to save colleagues’ jobs.

JCB Chief Executive Officer Matthew Taylor said: “Our employees voted last month to save 332 of their colleagues’ jobs, which is commendable. In turn JCB is now supporting their decision as much as possible by retaining 336 people who ordinarily would have been made redundant. 

"All job losses are regrettable but we have jointly saved 668 jobs from more than 1,240 that would otherwise have been at risk.”