Urgent Job Support for Laid-off Oceania Glass Workers in Dandenong

Support for Retrained Workers

A manufacturers group has stepped in to help find new employment for retrenched Oceania Glass workers at an event this Tuesday (4 March).

The South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) will participate in a Next Steps job-seeker event at Dandenong aimed at connecting these workers with local manufacturers.

Government's Role in the Crisis

SEMMA's chief executive, Honi Walker, expressed concern, stating, "This situation could have been avoided if the Albanese government had expedited its Anti-Dumping Commission rulings by reinstating anti-dumping laws and increasing tariffs on imported glass."

Walker lamented, "We are left to pick up the shattered lives of these long-term loyal workers. We hope there are enough roles suitable for these skilled glass makers."

This crisis echoes the automotive sector shutdown, and Walker assured that SEMMA will assist in transitioning the affected workers and local manufacturers into other sectors.

Job Losses and Delayed Entitlements

As reported on 27 February, 151 jobs will be lost, with 56 employees laid off immediately as operations at the Dandenong South plant wind down. The retrenched employees now face months of waiting for the company’s liquidation before receiving their redundancy payments and entitlements.

The Australian Workers Union has stated that administrators applied to the Federal Court to extend the administration process to August, delaying workers' applications for the federal government’s Fair Entitlements Guarantee (FEG) for six months.

Ronnie Hayden, AWU state secretary, criticized the situation: "It is utterly outrageous to think you can lay off 40-plus hardworking Australians with no financial support or entitlements and expect it to go unnoticed."

Call for Action

Hayden urged the Federal Government to fast-track the FEG applications, emphasizing that this guarantee is designed to protect workers in such scenarios.

Job-Seeker Event Details

The job-seeker event will take place at Chisholm Dandenong, Stud Road, Building A – ground floor, in the auditorium – on Tuesday 4 March, from 1pm to 3pm.