Jacqui visits local manufacturer as unemployment drops in Redditch.
Friday 1 December 2006
Jacqui Smith MP visited a company in Astwood Bank making components for an award winning lighting product. Vulco
are a hard working family firm. They have taken on the competition at home and abroad and still face harsh competitive forces. But with a combination of skills
and commitment they have maintained a very impressive workload and jobs for local people.
Jacqui said
"The workers at Vulco were great and seemed to have been working at the factory for ever.
(I met a lady working there who was 88 and still enjoying her working life). I am not surprised because I thought this was one of the happiest factories I have ever
visited. Jobs are important to individuals, they are
important for our economy and they are important for our society in all sorts of ways."
In May 1997 there were 2,085 people claiming the Jobseekers Allowance in Redditch by
October this year that figure was 1,160. That is 925 fewer families worrying about where the next paycheck is coming from. I am very proud that the government
has been able to secure that sort of success at the same time as introducing fairness at work. Things like The National Minimum Wage, new rights for parents of young children,
more maternity and new paternity rights and new trade union rights."
Jacqui - pictured with Vulco workers
If you would like to comment on this Story, polease email Jacqqi at smithjj@parliament.uk
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