NEC chief in jobs talks

Workers at the plant have been briefed

The managing director of the NEC computer plant in Livingston has flown to Japan for talks that could see 800 jobs being cut at the factory.

Hideto Goto is to attend a meeting to discuss restructuring plans by the Japanese company which may end the production of D-RAM memory chips at the plant.

NEC has been hit by the falling price of D-RAM chips and has been forced to bring forward changes.

No one involved in the semi-conductor business is willing to say that job losses won't happen

NEC manager Bill Gold

That restructuring prompted reports on Tuesday that 800 workers at Livingston, half the 1,600-strong workforce, were set to lose their jobs.

A spokesman said the company could not rule out cuts at its Scottish plant as the company restructures its business in Europe.

Bill Gold, a senior manager at the plant, said Mr Goto would be discussing the options facing the factory.

He said: "His immediate concern is to vie for new products for the factory, but I am sure an option also on the table will be the possibility of restructuring and job losses.

"No one involved in the semi-conductor business is willing to say that job losses won't happen.

The plant produces memory chips for computing devices

"But the fact of the matter at Livingston is that nothing has been discussed and nothing decided.

"The reports were based on pure speculation and not on any briefing made by this company."

NEC has also revealed that workers at the factory, where unions are not recognised, have been briefed following Tuesday's "speculation".

Mr Gold said: "We are at great pains to keep our workforce abreast of any developments or announcements by the corporation.

"With all respect, the workforce come first and the politicians, agencies and media come after that."

California cuts

The news is a further blow to both West Lothian and Scotland's electronics industry, which last month lost 3,000 jobs with the closure of the Motorola mobile phone plant.

NEC began a global review of its operations two months ago, prompted by a continuing world-wide slump in the market for computer chips.

At the time, 700 jobs were cut at a California plant when the company halted the production of unprofitable D-RAM chips used in personal computers.