WANGARANG Industries chief executive officer Kevin McGuire guaranteed jobs would remain after Electrolux closed, but called on Orange businesses to choose Wangarang above others.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr McGuire said because of the company’s cost structure, Wangarang could do most contracted jobs better and cheaper than others.
Wangarang provides supported employment and training for people living with a disability in Orange and the central west and about 50 people work at the building on Forest Road as contractors to Electrolux.
Mr McGuire said there was not much Wangarang could not do, other than steel fabrication and carpentry.
“Our workers are pretty efficient and we can offer very reasonable rates,” he said.
“We’re very efficient because of the way we’re structured and we’re not overly mechanised, so our overheads are cheaper.”
Mr McGuire said the company was paid to employ people with a disability, but the funding only covered about 20 per cent of their revenue.
“I’ll lose my job before anyone with a disability is left unemployed"
He said no person with a disability would be out of a job after Electrolux closed in 2016.
“I’ll lose my job before anyone with a disability is left unemployed,” he said.
If the company could not find new contracts to replace the 25 full-time equivalent positions Electrolux offered, then employees would be given funded day programs so they “wouldn’t have nothing to do”.
Mr McGuire said Wangarang was in negotiations with Orange City Council to take on some of the jobs contracted out, such as gardening.
“Really we can do anything, we won’t say no to something until we’ve been out and had a look,” he said.
“Just think of us if you’re outsourcing some work.”
He said he was reasonably confident the company could secure the work that was needed for the employees for the 2016 deadline, because the company had been given a good lead-in time.
nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au