Up to 100 jobs will go from Toyota’s Altona manufacturing plant, it was announced yesterday.
The car manufacturer, which employs 2500, blamed the voluntary redundancies on a slump in exports. In April last year, 350 jobs were axed.
Workers across the plant, not just the production line, will be affected.
President and CEO Max Yasuda said the decision was difficult but vital if Toyota wanted to remain globally competitive.
“In the lead-up to 2018 we need to reduce the cost of each of our locally built vehicles by $3800.’’ After the cuts, the number of cars built in Altona each day will drop from 470 to 431.
Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane yesterday said the government was committed to working with the car industry on its long-term future in Australia.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union official Dave Smith said workers were still digesting news of the redundancies.
“It’s not something that we’d like to see but we are pleased that Toyota are going to handle them in a voluntary manner.”
Gellibrand MP Tim Watts said that if Australia lost its car industry, more than 45,000 jobs would go.
“No car in the world is made without government support.”
