The young dad is among some 130 workers from Wodonga’s embattled Paragon Printing factory who have been stood down since Wednesday.

Yesterday, Mr Williams said he and his partner, Jackie Marcuzzi, were now struggling to pay the bills.

It comes after Ms Marcuzzi gave birth to their son, Nayte, nine weeks ago, and she has been off work as well.

“I haven’t got money to put food on the table any more,” Mr Williams said.

“We’re relying on our parents to help us out.”

Fellow Paragon Printing employee, Damien Shanahan, was in tears as he spoke about the toll the ordeal was taking on his family.

He has two girls, aged six weeks and four years, and is having trouble meeting mortgage and car repayments, as well the cost of sending his eldest daughter to child care.

“I can’t support my family,” he said.

“My four-year-old daughter wants to know why dad can’t work and I can’t tell her.

“All I want to do is support my family, be the man of the house.”