At a farewell lunch at the plant member for Orange Andrew Gee told employees he had been monitoring work prospects for the first group of employees who took redundancies last year.

“Of the 164 employees there were some retirements, but of the remaining employees, 93 have found full time employment locally,” he said.

“As far as we know there are about 15 people still looking for work.”

Electrolux general manager Mark O’Kane said on Monday he hoped the the training packages had opened up new opportunities not previously available to employees, including new career paths.

However, Corey Cooper said he left Electrolux without a new job to go to.

“Its going to be hard because I’ve been here for 19 years and this is the only job I’ve had since I left school.

“But I do think they [Electrolux] have done a good job at giving us other training so we can find a job,” he said.

Yesterday Shane Jones, who has been at the factory for eight years, said he had been working two jobs for the last three months.

“I managed to get a casual job night cleaning and now my boss has told me there is plenty of work to keep me going,” he said.

“I’m no stranger to this because it is the third place I’ve worked for that has closed down, first the abattoirs at Orange and Blayney, then I got a job at Tip Top and now here,” he said.

Craig Morgan, who has been at Electrolux for seven and a half years says he is not worried about getting a new job.

“I’ve already had a few job offers, but I haven’t taken them up yet because I want to go on a holiday so I can see my family,” he said.

Mr Gee told the employees his door was open to anyone who was struggling to find work and needed assistance.

“Orange will never forget Electrolux and they will never forget you,” he said.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au