FORD will shut its factories until at least Wednesday after the collapse of a supplier, putting thousands of car industry jobs under threat.
The company told 1800 workers at its Geelong and Broadmeadows plants to stay away from work until the middle of next week, the Herald Sun reports.The shut down of the plants may cause a chain reaction of short term closures across the car components industry.
Smaller players who rely on Ford could be forced to stand down workers without pay.
It comes after supplier CMI Industrial went into administration.
Receivers McGrathNicol were appointed shortly before 1pm today.
Keith Crawford, of McGrathNicol said he would work with unions. and creditors to "stabilise" the business but did not give a timeline on when CMI Industrial would begin operating again.
The Herald Sun understands that it was too late in the day for CMI Industrial to reopen its factory to make enough parts to keep Ford operating, even if administrators acted quickly.
Ford spokeswoman Sinead Phipps said it would pay workers at half pay until Wednesday.
"We are hopeful that we will be back at work on Wednesday," she said.
"Ford can't do anything until CMI has been in operation for a full 24 hours."
Ms Phipps said Monday was already a scheduled day off.
Both factories will close tomorrow.
Read more at the Herald Sun.
