Car firm may shed up to 600 jobs

Up to 600 jobs may go under a voluntary redundancy scheme at Jaguar Land Rover.

The car firm said it had received a "higher number of applicants" for a voluntary redundancy scheme announced last month in a bid to shed 198 jobs.

It said as a result, it was extending the scheme to up to 300 to 400 more workers "due to the impact on demand of the wider economic downturn".

It has factories at Castle Bromwich, Solihull and Coventry in the West Midlands and Halewood, Merseyside.

David Smith, the chief executive officer of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said, "While regrettable, these are necessary actions to manage our business through a very challenging period."

'Prudent' move

The firm, which is owned by Tata, said last month it wanted to shed 198 jobs in a bid to achieve greater efficiency.

But on Monday it announced it was "prudent" for it to extend the voluntary redundancy scheme to hourly-paid employees in manufacturing and product development and to salaried employees in manufacturing only.

The offer includes a include a lump-sum payment of nine months pay and full pension for employees aged 60 and over.

This further package was announced following consultation with employee representatives and trades union officials, the firm added.

Last month JLR workers were offered three months' leave in exchange for a 20% pay cut as production levels were cut.