The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union and the Australian Workers’ Union have welcomed the government’s announcement of a jobs forum.

AMWU National Secretary, Dave Oliver, and AWU National Secretary, Paul Howes, said the event would mean concerns about the impact of the mining boom, high exchange rate and cheap imports on the broader economy could be discussed.

“Our unions are glad to see the government taking active steps to find a solution to the crisis facing jobs in manufacturing and other sectors. A forum will allow unions, government and business and leading industry experts to discuss the best policy solutions to the two-speed economy.

“We look forward to the opportunity to put forward submissions about how the benefits of the mining boom can be spread more evenly among the industries which employ the 98% of Australians who do not work in the mining sector.”