The Electrolux Orange Transition Consultative Committee has less than 12 months before the first round of forced redundancies take place before the factory’s closure, but they say, given the situation, morale is pretty good.

Committee member Tony Cardwell said nearly every employee who wanted to be retrained had received, or was receiving, training through services such as TAFE and OCTEC. 

Through deals secured between Electrolux and the state government, courses came at no cost to the employees. 

Aged care was the most popular course chosen, particularly among women, Mr Cardwell said, whereas men had more commonly opted to gain heavy vehicle licences and licences in traffic management.

“There’s jobs out there, we just need to find them,” he said.

“People have accepted what is coming and embraced the time left.”

Mr Cardwell said he hoped to take on work with people with a disability when he finished at the plant and had taken on training to allow him to do that.

Committee member Geoff Drummond said hospitality courses had also been popular, as well as certificates in project management and workplace health and safety. 

He said about 50 staff members had accepted redundancies so far and another 20 were expected to put their hands up in March. 

Half the workforce is expected to be made redundant in September and October, 2015.

nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au