A north-east MSP has warned that fish factory staff, axed by Young’s Seafoods, could be squeezed out of the job market by former oil workers.
The message from Labour’s Lewis Macdonald came after a Scottish Government taskforce met in Fraserburgh to discuss the future of crisis-hit Young’s.
More than 300 people attended a jobs fair in the north-east port on Thursday, aimed at getting former employees back into work.
But Mr Macdonald claimed at least a third of those who visited the “successful” event at North East Scotland College’s Fraserburgh campus were never employed in the fish processing industry in the first place.
He said: “I was struck by the fact there were at least 100 people who had lost their jobs in the oil and gas industry.
“The Fraserbugh area has suffered a double whammy, because it had its share of oil and gas job losses and now it has lost fish processing jobs on top of that.”
Mr Macdonald added: “The jobs market is being squeezed from two different sides of the economy. It makes the need for action all the more urgent.”
His comments came after the Fraserburgh Taskforce, chaired by business secretary Fergus Ewing, met at the town’s leisure centre.
Mr Ewing said that Thursday’s jobs fair was a “success” overall, which “reflected the demand of workers across the town to find out about new opportunities.
He added: “I am heartened by how well Young’s, the unions and agencies continue to collaborate to reach out to the workforce.”
Following several hours of talks, Mr Ewing also announced a special bus service to support fish processing workers travelling to alternative employment in Peterhead and Boddam.
He said: “The idea of a new bus service was raised with me a fortnight ago by Eilidh Whiteford MP and I welcome the fact that Aberdeenshire Council recognises this is a practical support for people and is moving as quickly as it can to put the service in place.”
Last night, Aberdeenshire Council co-leader Richard Thomson said it was vital the local authority help lift any barriers to new jobs.
He added: “It’s important to help workers in any way we can to access alternative employment and transport is a key consideration, especially for workers who don’t have a car.”
The timetable for the new bus service and the fares will be published s