A SENIOR government minister has been criticised by Bolton union bosses for saying Remploy workers could get “proper jobs” when their factory shuts down.

The comments, reportedly made by work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith, have outraged Remploy workers, who have called for an apology.

Bolton Remploy worker and union representative Bill Hardman was one of about 200 people who went to a rally in London on Wednesday to protest about proposed Remploy closures.

He said: “There was criticism of Ian Duncan Smith who reportedly told Remploy workers in Essex that the closures would allow them to get ‘proper jobs’ rather than ‘sitting around making cups of tea’.

“People were dismayed to read that report. Iain Duncan Smith should come up to the Bolton Remploy factory. Then he’d see we don’t sit around all day — far from it.

“We spoke on behalf of all the employees and called for a rethink on the closure plan.”

Remploy’s electronics factory in Manchester Road employs 42 disabled people and is among 36 of 54 Remploy factories across the UK earmarked for closure.

After the protest outside the Department for Work and Pensions, the group moved to Parliament where members held a meeting led by North East Labour MP Ian Lavery.

Bolton South East Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi also criticised the work and pension secretary’s remarks.

She said: “It is disgraceful for the secretary of state to make these remarks. He should be helping to support disabled workers, not sneering at them. He should apologise for his comments.”

“The government needs to look again at its plans to close 36 factories. Closing the factories is condemning them to a lifetime on benefits.”

Mr Duncan Smith was not available for comment.