The UUP will move a motion in the Assembly later today calling for a manufacturing strategy to help with the long-term recovery of the sector.
UUP Economy spokesperson John Stewart MLA said:
“This debate has to be the last time the issue of a manufacturing strategy is merely debated, because the time for talking has to stop. What we need now is action to implement a strategy to protect manufacturing jobs.”
The wording of the motion is as follows:
That this Assembly recognises the vital role played by our local manufacturing sector in sustaining and growing our economy; further recognises the huge pressures on our manufacturing sector during the COVID-19 pandemic; commends employers and workers in the manufacturing sector who continue to persevere in the most adverse of economic conditions with limited financial support; notes with concern the potential job losses in the manufacturing sector; calls on the Minister for the Economy to detail the short to medium-term support measures that will be put in place to support the manufacturing sector through the COVID-19 pandemic; and further calls on her to produce the long-overdue manufacturing strategy to help the long-term recovery of, and growth within, the sector.