An MSP has raised concerns with the energy minister about potential jobs losses at Burntisland Fabrications Ltd in Methil and Burntisland.
Mid Scotland and Fife Labour MSP Claire Baker asked Fergus Ewing MSP if he and the Scottish Government had met with BiFab regarding the potential job losses before asking the minister what action the Scottish Government will take to support the company and its workers, ensuring that it can secure future DECC contracts.
Ms Baker also pressed for a meeting the minister, herself and BiFab in order to support the company during “this difficult time”.
She raised the questions following reports that around 170 members of staff are at risk of being laid off if new contracts are not secured by this weekend.
Affected members of staff have already received HR1 forms, which is a notification of potential redundancy, informing them of the situation at BiFab.
Ms Baker has already met management at the firm to discuss the situation and is now calling for the Scottish Government to join her in a follow-up meeting.
She said: “With each passing day we are inching closer to the situation that nobody involved wants and therefore every second counts in the fight to ensure that there is no need for significant job losses at BiFab.
“Workers are concerned about their future in this difficult time and, for their and their families’ sake, it is important that the Scottish Government step up efforts to support BiFab, particularly in its attempt to secure the contracts needed to maintain its workforce.
“It’s disappointing that so far the Government’s involvement is about managing redundancies rather than a focus on doing all that we can to prevent them and securing work for the site.”
BiFab, which has yards at Burntisland and Methil as well as one on the Isle of Lewis, has a significant gap in its order books this summer as work comes to an end on a number of major contracts.