Sacked Young workers deserve full entitlements

"The Rudd government needs to work with the people of Young on a funding package to provide clean green growth industries for the region, as well as guaranteeing the entilements of the 310 sacked workers," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The workers at the Burrangong Meat Processors abattoir are out of a job because of federal Labor's failure to implement its own policy to provide stronger protection for all workers' entitlements.

"The policy adopted at last year's ALP conference sets out harsher penalties for directors of companies that go into receivership, without making provision for workers' entitlements.

"The failure of the federal Labor government to change the Howard regime on entitlements is why directors can still shut down their company without providing the required pay outs.

"If Industrial Minister Julia Gillard had been committed to protecting workers' rights the directors of Burrangong Meat Processors abattoir would be now facing prosecution.

"The failure of Ms Gillard to act on her party's own policy means that the 310 workers and the wider Young community face an uncertain future.

"The people of Young have a right to hear from Ms Gillard today.

"She should announce a plan to immediately guarantee 100 per cent of accumulated employee entitlements, and to provide retraining and re-employment to assist workers.

"In Australia if a person loses their job they can also lose their entitlement - it does not matter how long they have worked. Germany provides government compensation of about 60 per cent of wages, and Denmark 90 per cent.

"The government's plan for Young needs to include funding for industries that will provide sustainable jobs growth.

"The potential for renewable energy production and manufacturing in the Riverina is huge. The government should be working on a transition program for the affected workers to ensure these sackings have minimal local impact," Ms Rhiannon said.

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