Jobs fair scheduled to help sacked staff

A LAST-minute jobs fair with 200-plus immediate vacancies to help sacked Ostwald Bros employees find work has been organised for Dalby today.

The event, organised by the Western Downs Regional Council, the Dalby Chamber of Commerce and the Department of State Development, will bring together 20 regional employers and six training organisations to help the 260 workers laid off from the civil construction company last week.

Western Downs Mayor Paul McVeigh said while the jobs fair was triggered by the news that Ostwald Bros had been placed into administration, he invited all residents to come along.

“While it’s been triggered by the Ostwald situation, this has been opened up to all people who are looking for work,” he said.

“We’ve got about 200 vacancies for immediate start, so that’s from local businesses now hiring.

“We’ve got 20 local employers coming along as well.

“What we’re trying to put on is an event where people find out the qualifications they need and hopefully the outcome out of tomorrow is we do fill those vacancies with workers.”

Cr McVeigh said he wanted to bring more people into the Western Downs, as well as stop the sacked workers from leaving Dalby.

“We are a council that’s trying to be positive - we’ve got a growing economy,” he said.

“We’ve got all these jobs coming at us - we’ve got feedlots, businesses expanding.

“If anything, we’re trying to get more people into the region.

“This is about the Western Downs, not just Dalby, so the low unemployment and plenty of job opportunities means that it’s quite attractive for people to come here.”

Workers sacked by the administrators of Ostwald Bros were told last week they were not guaranteed redundancy payments, or even their final pay cheque.

However, another 140 staff who were stood down have returned to work sites across Queensland following successful negotiations with contractors.

The jobs fair runs from 9am until 1pm at the Dalby Showgrounds today.