Ben offers support to people affected by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber attack
Thousands of supply chain staff and families facing weeks without pay urged to contact bespoke helpline to access support.
The Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund (Ben) is offering bespoke support to the thousands of people affected by the ongoing cyber attack at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
Since 1 September, JLR has experienced a cyber attack that has shut down production at its three manufacturing sites in the UK. The estimated number of people impacted is 120,000, including 50-75,000 supply chain workers, 30-40,000 family members and 5-8,000 agency staff.
The pause in production at JLR has already had a significant impact on the UK economy. It has added to the rapid decline in productivity for the UK’s manufacturing sector.
Ben has now launched a bespoke campaign to support those impacted by the cyber attack.
Speaking about the impact of the attack and the support available, Rachel Clift, CEO at Ben, said:
"We recognise this is a very worrying time for people who have been affected by the cyber attack, especially for small and medium-sized suppliers who rely on JLR’s production. The cyber attack came out of nowhere, so individuals could not have planned for its impact. Some small suppliers deliver just-in-time manufacturing and pay their staff weekly – meaning that workers are now facing their fourth week without a wage.
"We want everyone affected by the cyber attack to know that they are not alone. Ben can offer financial assistance, health and wellbeing support – and this may well be a lifeline for many workers and their families.
“As this challenging and uncertain time progresses, we are fully committed to working with others to ensure that all the necessary support is in place for workers to restart production at pace and without barriers."
Anyone affected by the JLR cyber attack can access support from Ben by visiting www.ben.org.uk/cyber-attack emailing jlrsupport@ben.org.uk or calling Ben’s helpline on 0808 131 1333.