Gildan officials said Wednesday the four remaining Fort Payne sock knitting facilities owned by the company will close in April, which will result in about 280 workers losing their jobs. Gildan spokesperson Genevihve Gosselin said the closures will also impact management and administrative positions.

Employees were notified Wednesday morning. Gosselin said the production capacity will be relocated to Gildan`s vertically integrated facility in Central America in order to respond to global competition pressure and further improve supply chain efficiencies and costs. Gildan has been accelerating cost-reduction initiatives in light of rising costs of raw materials.

All affected employees are receiving at least 60-day notification prior to the termination of their employment and will obtain extended unemployment benefits through the TAA certification. Gosselin said global competition was a major reason for the decision