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Potential employers from New Zealand and overseas have expressed interest in hiring workers facing redundancy at PPCS' Oringi meatworks, and some have already found new jobs.
Workers at the plant near Dannevirke were warned nearly two weeks ago that the plant was likely to close and all 466 workers would lose their jobs.
Management blamed declining sheep and lamb numbers, drought, competition for land use from the dairy industry, and competition from rival meat companies in Southern Hawke's Bay for the probable closure.
A final decision is due to be announced tomorrow.
Details of redundancy packages are expected to be announced at the same time.
PPCS's North Island human resources adviser, Gary Williams, told Hawke's Bay Today that if the plant closed, the company would not abandon the workers.
Affco had already made inquiries, as had meat processing companies in Australia, while some Oringi staff had already moved on to other employment.
"If the need arises we will be setting up a resource centre in Dannevirke, where workers will have access to our staff," he said.
Within days of the announcement at Oringi, PPCS workers Dunedin Burnside deer processing plant were told that it was also to close, with the loss of 138 jobs.
- NZPA
