Gozo jeans firm closing down

MP Clothing of Xewkija industrial estate is closing down and its 88 employees have lost their job, the General Workers' Union said.

The employees, mainly women, were served with the job termination notice on Monday, the union added.

The union said it was informed by the company that the discharges were being made because MP Clothing has orders for just three weeks. The factory will close down at the end of this month after the orders are completed, the union said.

Roberto Cristiano and Margaret Magrin from the GWU's manufacturing and small enterprise section on Monday met the management to discuss the situation and to ensure that the discharged workers would be given their due according to the law.

Mr Cristiano has also contacted the Employment and Training Corporation in an effort to find alternative employment for the workers.

MP Clothing started producing Levi jeans for export in 1969.

Last summer it discharged a number of workers because of a lack of orders.