Nissan workers stage costume protest over Spanish job cuts

Hundreds of Nissan workers wearing costumes and masks staged a protest on Wednesday in front of Spanish parliament to protest against the closure of plants of the Japanese firm in Spain. Protesters demanded the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez take action to change the law in order to protect jobs.

The Japanese carmaker announced in May they would shut a plant in Barcelona and several nearby facilities from December as part of a global restructuring plan to cut costs. The Barcelona operation employs 3,000 workers and the closures could indirectly affect up to 25,000 jobs. The car industry accounts for about 10% of Spain's gross domestic product, according to the producers association ANFAC.