Disabled staff in Remploy protest

A group of disabled workers have staged a sit-in at the head office of the government's biggest department.

Several staff employed by Remploy entered the reception area of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in central London and refused to leave.

They said they were protesting at the threat facing Remploy factories which provide jobs for disabled people. Unions are urging ministers not to support plans to close 28 factories with the loss of up to 2,000 jobs.

The workers taking part in the protest said they wanted to meet Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain to voice their concerns about losing their jobs.

A spokesman for the department said the protest was not affecting the running of the DWP. A rally will be held in Westminster later at which union officials will call for all 83 Remploy factories to remain open.