FORD CUTS 240 JOBS WHILE TOYOTA SCALES BACK PRODUCTION

MELBOURNE, April 14 (Bernama) -- Car giant Ford is to cut 240 jobs here
after a slump in demand for larger cars, while competitor Toyota will reduce the
hours for manufacturing staff in the wake of the Japanese earthquake disaster,
the Australian Associated Press reports.

Workers at Ford's Broadmeadows and Geelong plants were told by the
management today that they will be redeployed "wherever possible" but voluntary
redundancy packages will be offered where alternative roles are not an option.

Ford Australia chief executive Bob Graziano said production would be cut
from 260 to 209 cars a day from July, ahead of new Australian-made models being
launched over coming months, including a new Territory, Falcon EcoLPI and Falcon
EcoBoost.

The job losses are set to take effect from mid-July this year but it is
unclear how many workers from each plant will lose their jobs.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union state secretary Steve Dargavel
said Ford needs to introduce an export programme to overcome vagaries in the
domestic market and shield employees from further job losses.

Federal Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said the government was very
concerned about any loss of manufacturing jobs.

"Unfortunately, commercial decisions have meant that Ford needs to
re-balance its operations to meet the demands of the market," Senator Carr said
in a statement.

At Toyota, the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan will see
manufacturing workers at its Altona plant work a half-day shift from May 9.

Staff will be paid 75 per cent of their normal wages as the factory operates
on a reduced schedule of 50 per cent, while a similar outlook is expected in
June.

The announcement will affect 3300 staff who produce the Camry, Hybrid Camry
and Orion models in Melbourne's west.