Alcoa job deal 'not an issue'

ALCOA has denied any exodus of workers from Point Henry to a new aluminium smelter and rolling mill in Saudi Arabia, with just one Geelong manager joining the project.

A total of seven managers and supervisors from Alcoa's Victorian operations will help set up the smelting, rolling and refining operation in a joint venture between Saudi Arabian mining company Ma'aden and Alcoa.

It comes as Alcoa conducts a review of the future viability of the Point Henry smelter and the jobs of 600 Geelong-based workers, citing falling aluminium prices, a high Australian dollar and rising input costs.

The Herald Sun reported Point Henry workers were being offered lucrative pay deals to relocate to the Middle East.

But an Alcoa spokeswoman said the Middle East job openings had no connection to the Point Henry review.

"Alcoa is presenting opportunities for employees from all over the world to help build and commission the new ... facilities in Saudi Arabia," she said.

"A very small number are from Australia, with 10 from our Western Australia operations and seven from Victoria."

The spokeswoman said such opportunities were normal within a global organisation.

Australian Workers Union Victorian secretary Cesar Melhem said the Saudi Arabian recruitment drive had been announced several months ago and was a non-issue as far as the union was concerned.

"It's actually a storm in a teacup," Mr Melhem said.

"It's just part of a normal recruitment drive to attract some senior people to be ex-pats and go and work there.

"It's not an issue at this stage but we're monitoring the situation."

The Alcoa spokes-woman said the reports were unsettling for Point Henry workers, who were still grappling with the review and there hadn't been any "flood of interest".

The smelter and rolling mill are scheduled to begin production next year.