The Manufacturing Workers Union says it doubts jobs being moved from the Golden Circle Juice plant in Melbourne’s north-east will stay in Australia.

One hundred and twenty three workers have been told they will lose their jobs when the Mill Park plant closes in March.

The company says the factory is no longer viable.

Union state secretary Steve Dargavel believes the jobs will be shifted overseas soon.

“We are quite sceptical about whether or not the work in fact stays in Queensland,” he said.

“What this is most likely to be is a play by the company in the medium to long term to increase the amount of imported food that it is bringing into this country.”

He says the closure will also affect suppliers.

“Not just manufacturing workers but also the hundreds of farmers that support this business, that will be losing business as a consequence of this decision,” he said.