THE downturn in Australia's mining industry is claiming local scalps with Highland manufacturer Joy Mining offering voluntary redundancies to their 220 trades employees.
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Director of Human Resources Australasia for Joy Global, Mr Erik Lucis, said after looking at the forecasts for all their plants, they could not justify maintaining the workforce at Moss Vale.
"Lots of our customers have changed their operational priorities and are now focusing on cost reductions. They are deferring purchases and capital equipment and cutting back on the maintenance.
"They say we still have the best product in the market, but that's no good for us if we can't sell it," Mr Lukis said.
Joy is hoping that at least 45 employees will take up the offer, with a deadline of today to decide.
Mr Lukis said other plants in Joy Global were just scraping through so had no capacity to take on any of the Moss Vale staff.
"Have a look at what is happening in the industry. Rio has closed its Brisbane office entirely, Xstrata Coal are restructuring.
If our customers are significantly reducing their workforce, that's going to have a big impact on us."
Mr Lukis said anyone who accepted a voluntary redundancy would receive a level of outplacement support.
