Two Fruit of the Loom factories to be relocated in Morocco

The Australian "Fruit of the Loom" company decided to close two factories in Ireland and to relocate them in Morocco, said on Thursday the Sydney based "Morning Herald" newspaper.

The newspaper said the shutting down of the two factories will entail the laying off of 650 workers, adding the company already employ some 1,700 people in its textile factory in Morocco.

The Australian textile company said its decision to relocate its production units in Morocco was made because of falling prices in European markets, wage rises in Ireland and the WTO decision to eliminate quota system on Asian imported products, the newspaper said.

Fruit of the Loom, which makes under-wears, T-shirts and other textiles, is closing the plants in Buncrana, in the Republic of Ireland, and Londonderry, in Northern Ireland. The plants employ 370 workers and 260 workers, respectively.