Productivity Commission hearing
Geelong   T.C.F.
Thursday  5th June 2003,  1:50pm.

TCF Employs		2150 direct	
5000 people	
				2838 indirect

				14.2 % of Geelong Manufacturing Workforce

Industry turnover is	$ 440 million in the region
				$   70 million in wages to Geelong economy
				60   TCF business  operating in the region.

Geelong			14.2 % of manufacturing workforce
Victoria			  8.9 %   "       "                      "

Employers			Godfrey Hirst			700
Huyck				187
				Brintons			170
				Melba				130
				Geelong Wool Combing	120
The nine largest companies account for  66 % of total employment in TCF

Since 1997 the following companies have closed:-
Glassweave, Burrowes Industries, Bay City Clothing, Elite Fibre Australia, AGS Pty Ltd, Nara Fashions, Hello Fashions, Glenros, Kinnears Ropeworks.

Since 1997 TCF jobs have decreased by 1,150  to 2,150.
Weller study showed that in 1997,  600 retrenched textile workers  53% were jobless after 2 years.

•	We oppose a reduction as the Commission suggests.

•	Impact on Jobs in the Region.

•	Our Region is dependant on  TCF

In summary the Geelong and Region Trades and Labour Council suggests:-

Maintain the current freeze in tariffs until it can be demonstrated that any reduction is in the interest of Australian workers, and until such time that our major trading partners reduce their tariff and non-tariff barriers to a level equal to Australia. 

Continue to fund an industry assistance program similar to SIPS, but ensure that any new program ties business assistance to the on-going employment of Australian workers 

Fund a re-training program similar to the Labour Adjustment Progam (LAP) that is specific to the TCF sector and pays workers for the period of re-training 

Clean-up the TCF industry by ensuring that all workers, including home-based outworkers, are paid award wages. Work in safe and suitable conditions and ensure that Corporations Law is amended (as promised prior to the previous election) to ensure that workers' entitlements are given priority above all other creditors so in the event of company collapses workers receive 100% of their entitlements.