Labour is in contact with Jaguar Land Rover following the devastating cyber attack which damaged the automaker's production and IT facilities.
Jaguar Land Rover is continuing to suffer in the aftermath of a cyber attack that was launched at the start of September, with production at many of its facilities being paused.
In a statement earlier this week, JLR confirmed that it had informed colleagues, suppliers and partners that it would extend the current pause on production until Wednesday, September 24.
It noted that it was continuing with its "forensic investigation" of the cyber incident, while considering the different stages of the "controlled restart of our global operations".
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The iconic British automaker also acknowledged that some data had been accessed in the cyber attack.
In response, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) have released a joint statement on the Jaguar cyber attack.
Today, Friday, September 19, the SMMT held an "extraordinary meeting" of its Automotive Components Section, which included officials from the DBT.
The SMMT said the meeting allowed key players to listen directly to suppliers and understand the challenges and concerns they face.
The SMMT and the Department for Business and Trade met to discuss the JLR cyber attack
|REUTERS/PA
The joint statement declared: "The recent cyber incident is having a significant impact on Jaguar Land Rover and on the wider automotive supply chain.
"The Government, including Government cyber experts, are in contact with the company to support the task of restoring production operations, and are working closely with JLR to understand any impacts on the supply chain."
The production has led to the shutdown in facilities across the UK, notably Halewood, Wolverhampton and Solihull, and other factories around the UK.
According to The Slovak Spectator, JLR's factory, in the Slovakian city of Nitra, has faced difficulties following the cyber attack, which has resulted in shifts being cut.
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The factory, which produces the Land Rover Defender and Discovery, has halted output, reduced shifts and "sent about 40 employees home on partial pay".
Similarly, British manufacturer Webasto, which supplies glass roofs to JLR, has halted factory operations.
The Telegraph reported that the company has warned that jobs may be lost, with the company employing 350 people at its factory in Sutton Coldfield, in the West Midlands.
Unite, one of the UK's largest unions, has called for the Government to consider introducing a furlough scheme for workers who could be impacted along the supply chain.
Staff at JLR's Halewood Plant were told to go home earlier this month | PAIt called on Labout to follow the actions of the Scottish Government, which introduced a furlough scheme for affected employers at bus maker Alexander Dennis to support the retention of all jobs.
Unite said it was working "intensively" with the Scottish Government to develop a rescue package, with the union writing to Labour to introduce a similar scheme for the JLR supply chain.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Workers in the JLR supply chain must not be made to pay the price for the cyberattack.
"It is the Government's responsibility to protect jobs and industries that are a vital part of the economy.