A JOBS fair is to be held to help people affected by the proposed closure of the Barton's Kimberly-Clark plant.
The event, organised by North Lincolnshire Council and JobCentre Plus, will be at the Falkland Way factory on Tuesday, January 22, from 5pm to 8pm.
The nappy-making plant is due to close this year, with the loss of around 480 jobs.
The new employer open day will allow employees to showcase themselves to potential employers.
A task force was set up soon after the proposed closure was announced in October, aimed at finding alternative employment for workers.
It is chaired by Councillor Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council.
She said: "We are working very closely with Kimberly-Clark to see how we can generate job opportunities for everybody who may lose their job in the new year.
"This event is hopefully going to get people into work.
"It is now vital that employees have as many avenues back into work or opportunities for retraining as possible."
The open day will give Kimberly-Clark employees a chance to discuss current vacancies or opportunities which may be coming up with potential new employers.
Ted Plaziuk, chairman of the Barton Chamber of Trade, said he hoped the event would help the workers.
He said: "It brings people together and it can do no harm, but I don't know what other opportunities are out there.
"If you can match people up with companies, something might spark off and there might be something employers could take up.
"Job vacancies are not far and wide, but you have got to admire the effort of the task force."
Barton MP Martin Vickers also said he thought the open day would be beneficial.
He said: "People feel a bit depressed and down when these things happen and the natural reaction is to think things won't work.
"But the JobCentre Plus people have got considerable experience in dealing with major closures over the years and they can tailor natural people skills with work available.
"It is an initiative which is deserving of support and very welcome."
The latest available figures show 62 vacancies at the Barton JobCentre Plus office in November.
Kimberly-Clark announced its closure plans for the Barton site because of increasing market pressures. The closure is part of a proposal to stop both the manufacturing and selling of products across most of Europe.
Kimberly-Clark representatives were unavailable for comment.
