MOTOR giant Ford today has this message for its 1,600 grounded workers at Southampton: "We are working hard to keep everyone employed."

As reported in the Daily Echo yesterday, production of the best-selling Transit van has halted because of a strike at its sister plant in Belgium.

Unions at Genk are on the warpath over Ford's controversial plan to lay off 3,000 of its workforce there.

Industrial action has blocked the delivery of essential supplies of metal panels to the Swaythling plant.

Factory bosses have put the 1,603 workers on training courses while the dispute abroad rumbles on.

However, there is genuine concern that the company may face the bleak prospect of sending staff home if there is no break-through at Genk.

Corporate affairs manager Tom Malcolm admitted: "It cannot last indefinitely."

It was unclear today what kind of money employees would be on if they do have to stay at home.

But Mr Malcolm stressed: "We have no plans to lay anyone off."

He added: "We anticipate the training and other initiatives continue for quite a few more days, but we will continue to keep a daily check on the situation in Genk. We are working hard to keep everyone employed."

The knock-on effect of the strike in Belgium is a blow to Ford because its commercial van sales are already up on last year.

According to independent figures, Ford's UK market share for the Transit so far this year is 27 per cent, up more than four per cent on 2002.

Ford - the second biggest motor company in the world - has had to embark on cost cutting because of a price war and strong competition from the Far East.

Up to 375 Transit vans, with a total showroom value of £5m, are normally produced under a two-shift system at the Hampshire factory.

Ford is confident it will be able to catch up on lost time once the Genk dispute is resolved.

A spokeswoman for factory union TGWU said it was in "dialogue" with both the company and members over the halted production issue.

However, she did not want to comment on what would happen regarding pay if the workers have to be temporarily laid off.