一家为军方生产安全装备的苏格兰工厂面临100多个岗位流失的风险。
More than 100 jobs are at risk at a Scottish factory which manufactures safety equipment for the military.
Gentex公司宣布计划关闭位于斯特兰拉尔的工厂，该厂雇佣了111名员工，并对位于赫特福德郡莱奇沃斯的工厂进行“调整”。
Gentex has announced proposals to close its plant at Stranraer where 111 people are employed and to make "changes" at its Letchworth site in Hertfordshire.
公司表示，此举是将其英国业务集中到默西赛德郡海德克新设施的计划的一部分。
It said the move was part of plans to centralise its UK operations in a new facility in Haydock, Merseyside.
公司称尚未做出最终决定，但符合条件的员工将获得薪资直到明年底——即使他们更早被裁员。
The firm said no final decision had been made but eligible employees would be paid until the end of next year - even if they are made redundant earlier.
当地苏格兰议会议员芬利·卡森表示，该地区失去111个高技能岗位“影响巨大”。
Local MSP Finlay Carson said the loss of 111 highly-skilled jobs in the area was "hugely significant".
他补充道：“这不仅仅是另一起公司重组。它代表了我们地区近年来面临的最大规模私营部门裁员事件之一。”他呼吁苏格兰政府、邓弗里斯-加洛韦议会以及包括苏格兰南部企业局在内的相关机构做出紧急、协调的回应。
"This is not simply another company restructuring," he added. "It represents one of the largest private sector job losses our area has faced in recent years." He called for an urgent, co-ordinated response from the Scottish government, Dumfries and Galloway Council and agencies including South of Scotland Enterprise.
他说：“我们必须利用现有时间，确保受影响员工获得支持以寻找新机会，并全力吸引替代性投资入驻该地区。”苏格兰政府商业与公平就业部长汤姆·亚瑟形容可能的裁员“令人深感担忧”，并表示这将对当地社区产生重大影响。
He said: "We must use the time available to ensure affected workers are supported into new opportunities and that every effort is made to attract replacement investment to the area." The Scottish government's Business and Fair Work Minister Tom Arthur, described the possible job losses as "deeply concerning" and said they would have a significant impact on the local community.
他说：“我今天下午与Gentex公司进行了交谈，以更好地了解其做出此决定的原因，并敦促公司与苏格兰南部企业局接洽，探索任何有助于工厂继续运营的方案。
He said: "I spoke with Gentex this afternoon to better understand the reasons for this decision and to encourage the company to engage with South of Scotland Enterprise to explore any options to help the site remain open.
“受此公告影响的个人是我们当前的首要任务。若出现裁员，苏格兰政府的PACE团队已准备好在裁员程序启动时为员工提供全力支持。”Gentex公司为军方、执法部门及其他行业生产头盔、耳机、面罩和氧气面罩等安全装备。
"The individuals affected by this announcement are our immediate priority. Should there be job losses, the Scottish government's PACE team stands ready to offer their full support to staff if any redundancies proceed." Gentex produces safety equipment like helmets, headsets, visors and oxygen masks for the military, law enforcement and other industries.
这家工厂在该镇拥有悠久历史，此前由 Top Tek 所有，为 Kangol 生产头盔。
The factory has a long history in the town, where it was previously owned by Top Tek, which manufactured helmets for Kangol.
从 1983 年起，该工厂由 Helmet Integrated Systems Ltd (HISL) 运营，后于 2014 年被 Gentex 收购。斯特兰拉和莱奇沃斯的员工较早得知了这一消息。
From 1983, it was operated by Helmet Integrated Systems Ltd (HISL) before being acquired by Gentex in 2014. The news was broken to staff at Stranraer and Letchworth earlier.
Gentex 运营高级总监 Andrew Wilde 表示：“我们长期的欧洲增长机遇和客户需求正在超越我们目前的英国设施，因此我们对如何拓展业务进行了详细审查。”他说，他们提议在正式磋商程序的前提下，将英国业务整合至海德克。
Andrew Wilde, senior director of operations at Gentex, said: "Our long-term European growth opportunities and customer needs are outpacing our current UK facilities, so we have conducted a detailed review into how we grow our operations." He said they proposed consolidating their UK activities at Haydock, subject to a formal consultation process.
他补充道：“如果该提议推进，将导致我们斯特兰拉设施关闭以及莱奇沃斯发生变动，部分岗位面临裁员风险。拟议的过渡将在未来两年内分阶段进行。
He added: "If the proposal proceeds, this would result in the closure of our Stranraer facility and changes at Letchworth, with a number of roles at risk of redundancy. The proposed transition would take place in phases over the next two years.
“我们知道这个消息对我们在英国的同事及其家庭来说多么艰难，这绝不代表对他们或其工作的否定。我们承诺，至少到 2027 年底，保障符合条件的受影响员工的薪酬。”
"We know how hard this news is for our colleagues in the UK and their families, and it's no reflection on them or their work. We're committed to protecting the pay of eligible affected employees through at least the end of 2027."