Shorten puts pen to pants in Melbourne

Politicians are no strangers to autograph requests but being asked to sign a female worker's jeans is a first for Bill Shorten.

As the opposition leader met with workers at manufacturer Socobell Oem at Melbourne's Altona North on Monday, one woman offered her jeans for a signature.

"That's a serious first," Mr Shorten said, leaning down with a black marker in hand.

"You're good value," he told the worker after she thanked him.

Socobell is involved in automotive, medical, electrical and engineering manufacturing.

Mr Shorten toured the factory as nearby car manufacturer Toyota prepares to shut down its Altona operations on October 3.

"This visit is proof to me that the engineering skills in the automotive sector are not finished, that there are the skills and will for Australia to still be an automotive manufacturing powerhouse," he told reporters.

"But .... in eight weeks we're going to see one of the largest job funerals that Australia has ever seen."