Little work for BlueScope Steel jobless

Just a small fraction of the workers who left the Port Kembla steelworks for the final time last year have found jobs.Statistics compiled by the Federal Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education show that 174 of the 700 employees who left BlueScope Steel last October have found some other form of work.The revelation, along with confirmation that a taskforce created in response to the mass sackings has met only twice in five months, is expected to trigger fresh calls for a greater stimulus package for the Illawarra.Another 100 workers who were retained to help shut down sections of the plant are expected to leave permanently next month, compounding the effect on the Illawarra region's economy.The Illawarra Stakeholder Taskforce, an action group convened by Prime Minister Julia Gillard after BlueScope Steel's decision to downsize last August, estimates that half of those leaving the steelworks may retire.About 124 employees took advantage of a program which allowed redundant employees who did not want to leave to swap jobs with someone who did.BHP Billiton has hired nearly 60 former BlueScope employees to work in the booming mining sector, including positions at its Illawarra Coal operations.Another 60 former employees will soon be offered roles with BHP or are in the final stages of the engagement process."BHP Billiton has been proud to support people affected by BlueScope Steel's operational changes," said Illawarra Coal head of external affairs John Brannon.However, the taskforce believes 330 people are still searching for a new job nearly three months after finishing work.Meanwhile, the Mercury has confirmed that the Illawarra Stakeholder Taskforce has met just twice since it was formed.It is made up of political heavyweights, union and business leaders and local government representatives, most prominently the former UOW vice-chancellor Gerard Sutton.It has officially met on September 9 and October 14 last year. A date is yet to be set for its next meeting.