Huggies nappies production to move to China

Up to 220 jobs will be lost in South Western Sydney after multinational manufacturer Kimberly-Clark revealed that production of Australia’s top-selling Huggies nappies will be moved to China in the coming months.

Workers at the Kimberly-Clark Australia mill in Ingleburn, near Campbelltown, have been told that their jobs will be sent offshore in July. Workers are now calling for Kimberly Clark to reverse this reckless decision.

CFMEU Textile Clothing Footwear National Secretary Jenny Kruschel said this is a devastating blow for workers proud to be making the products that mums and dads across Australia rely on.

“As the news gets out, we already have parents asking ‘how will I know that Huggies nappies are still made to Australian safety standards?’ The reality is, parents won’t. We are rolling the dice by putting Aussie kids in nappies made in countries product safety standards are notoriously lower.

“Our members in Ingleburn have given so much to the company, with those efforts responsible for ensuring Huggies remained a market leader, yet rather than reward that hard work, management have chosen to simply shut the factory and throw these workers on the scrapheap.

“Kimberly-Clark needs to reverse their decision and save Huggies — a product beloved by Australian families for generations — before it’s too late.

“State and Federal Government’s should also intervene, taking immediate action to ensure these iconic Australian brands continue to be made by Australian workers.”

CFMEU officials, workplace delegates, and union activists met with Kimberly-Clark Australia management this morning to discuss the closure.