A NUMBER of Harlow residents have been made redundant by ABM Blue Handling, which coordinates baggage handling at Stansted Airport. The former employees reached out to their local MP, Robert Halfon, after receiving letters from ABM at the end of March, outlining that the company would “not be using the [Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention] scheme” to keep them employed during this difficult time.

Mr Halfon is working hard and has demanded answers from ABM in a strongly-worded letter addressed to the CEO, Mr Scott Salmirs. Acknowledging the financial pressures that employers are currently under amid the outbreak of COVID-19, he pointed out that “businesses also have responsibilities to their employees” and “where the Government is providing support to workers and their employers” he “urge[d] [the CEO] to take advantage of these schemes”.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme sees 80% (up to £2,500 a month) of a furloughed employee’s wages covered by the Government. Mr Halfon is aware that ABM have implemented the scheme for certain employees, but not others – leaving around 110 employees redundant, accounting for 11% of the total Blue Handling workforce.

Mr Halfon has escalated this case with Government Ministers, including the Secretary of State for Business. In his letter to Alok Sharma MP, Mr Halfon explains that, “many individuals and their families, in my constituency and beyond, are facing real economic hardship as a result of the decisions by ABM” and called for Government intervention “as a matter of urgency”.

Commenting on the job losses, Mr Halfon said: “I’m working hard on behalf of these Harlow residents who have been laid-off by ABM through no fault of their own, and at a time of great uncertainty.

“I’m pressing ABM for answers on their decision not to take advantage of the Government support schemes. I’ve also brought this to the attention of Ministers in Parliament to take this forward.

“Whilst I recognise that the aviation and travel industry faces enormous pressures from the impact of COVID-19, and have been supportive of calls for additional support for the sector, this company is placing many families in financial insecurity by these redundancies. I will do all I can to help these workers.”