AUSTRALIA (From news reports) -- Kimberly-Clark's Ingleburn Mill will close its doors for the last time at 7pm Wednesday in what has been described as "a sad day for Australian-made products".
More than 200 staff at the facility, which produces Huggies nappies, were told they would lose their jobs earlier this year.
An employee who asked not to be named said the past week had been tough for workers at the factory.
"It's very, very said," she said.
"We were the market leader in nappies.
"It's the end of an era - the nappies will now be made in Korea and China which is not good for the workers and certainly not good for our customers.
"It's a shame the manufacturing of these products couldn't be kept in Australia."
The former employee said the mood at the mill had been sombre.
"We've been working beside each other for the past 30 years for 12 hours each day," she said.
"We are like family.
"Sometimes I think I spent more time with my colleagues than I did my own family."
Kimberly-Clark's decision to close the factory also drew criticism from the public and Macarthur MPs.
At the time Macarthur federal MP Mike Freelander, and his state colleagues Anouloack Chanthivong (Macquarie Fields) and Greg Warren (Campbelltown) formed a united front against the closure.
"This senseless decision will have a devastating impact upon the Macarthur community and should be reversed," Dr Freelander said.
"Their decision to shift operations to Asia is short-sighted and only in the interest of boosting profits."
In April when employees first learned they would lose their jobs, Kimberly-Clark's managing director Doug Cunningham said in a media statement affected employees would be paid their full legal entitlements and redundancy pay, which is above the national redundancy provisions.
"In addition, outplacement assistance and counselling will be provided," he said.
Mr Cunningham said the factory was being closed as part of the company's Global Restructuring Program.
"Going forward, production will move to Kimberly-Clark's facilities in Asia, enabling faster access to the latest research and engineering advancements in nappies and pants," Mr Cunningham said.
Kimberly-Clark will continue to locally manufacture Kleenex, VIVA and Kimberly-Clark Professional products at its Millicent Mill in South Australia.
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