THEY say the wheels of government turn slowly and they’re right when it comes to providing a clear picture of future employment opportunities for Electrolux workers once the factory closes in 2016.
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On Tuesday Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner visited Orange and met with management at Electrolux to announce a massive assistance package aimed at not only finding jobs for the displaced workers but also boosting the central west economy.
According to Mr Stoner, a proposed government rescue package could enable central west businesses to access possibly millions of dollars in financial assistance provided they employ extra staff.
However, despite the good news, workers must be feeling frustrated at the lack of detail.
While Mr Stoner assured workers the rescue package money would be available by the end of the year, he was unable to say exactly how much it would be and how the business community would access it.
Perhaps the most heartening news to come out of yesterday’s visit was the revelation that 420 of Electrolux’s 544 employees have already put their hands up for training courses, subsidised by the state government and Electrolux, offered through TAFE Western.
While details may be scarce about how the government will assist workers in the central west, it’s good to see Electrolux staff are taking full advantage of the training on offer and making their own plans for the future.
As the member for Orange, Andrew Gee, said yesterday, no matter what the rescue package looks like, “Orange is not a stagnant economy, we’ll get through this”.