DWP to close over 40 UK offices with 'thousands' of jobs at risk

dailystar.co.uk:

The Department of Work and Pensions has today announced a plan to close around 42 offices, and unions claim that "thousands" of jobs could be at risk.Thousands of benefits office staff were called to meetings at 10.30am today to be told about the changes.Thirteen of the 42 offices will be closed with "no other strategic site nearby" leaving some 1,300 workers either losing their jobs altogether or reapplying for work in another government department.Roughly another 29 offices are expected to shut with their 12,000 workers having to move to another site nearby.Many of the closures are in key parts of northern England, from Blackburn and Bradford to Washington and Stockton-on-Tees.Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey had recently described the DWP staff as 'exceptional', saying: “They are the hidden heroes for many people in this country.

They should take great pride in their hard work and dedication to supporting people through these difficult times.”Shadow DWP minister Justin Madders said: "It looks as though the DWP doesn't believe in levelling up, it doesn't believe in its own rhetoric on jobs, and it doesn't believe in keeping people in work."Many of the closures are in areas of economic deprivation that can hardly afford to lose good quality, public sector jobs.