Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – "The agreement reached on Electrolux represents an important step in our commitment to protecting Italian industry and employment levels." Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated, emphasizing: "Over €100 million in investments, production continuity for the plants, and exclusively voluntary and incentivized redundancies. A significant result for the workers involved and for Italy's industrial future."
“The government will continue to ensure that all commitments made are respected,” the prime minister then stated.
"We have achieved our goal: an agreement that protects workers and safeguards all Electrolux plants in Italy, with over €100 million in investments to ensure long-term production prospects," said Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, last night. He announced the agreement on Electrolux's new industrial plan, following 30 hours of intense discussions at the Ministry of Mimit with the company and trade unions, which began on Tuesday and continued unabated throughout the night.
The agreement calls for over €100 million in investments and a production of approximately 3,2 million units annually by the end of the plan, confirming the strategic role of the Italian plants. Compared to the 1.719 redundancies initially announced by the company, the new plan calls for a maximum of 902 exits to be managed exclusively on a voluntary and incentivized basis, with the support of social safety nets.
On the production front, the Porcia product portfolio is expanding, consolidating the production of washing machines and washer-dryers on both platforms.
Investments and production prospects for the Susegana, Solaro, and Forlì plants have also been confirmed. Production at Cerreto d'Esi is expected to continue, with volumes in line with current levels and the average of recent years, until a reindustrialization solution is found to protect the 149 workers. The Ministry of Labor will be involved in identifying the most appropriate social safety nets, supported by training and professional retraining programs. The agreement is also the result of the government's battle in Europe to defend the home appliance sector. In a non-paper supported by France, Germany, Poland, Spain, and Slovakia, Italy called for a European plan for the sector, to protect production from unfair competition and to support investment. The Commission's willingness to act on these proposals has helped reopen the dialogue with Electrolux on a new basis and create the conditions for a revision of the industrial plan. "Defending jobs means creating the conditions for companies to continue producing and investing in Italy. This is what our government has done with Electrolux, and it's what we're asking Europe for the entire sector: now the Commission's commitments must be followed by concrete measures," Urso emphasized.
"I am pleased that the agreement with Electrolux has finally been reached. The compromise reached after months of negotiations is very good because the transition from the planned redundancies to a significantly lower number of voluntary and incentivized departures has prevented what would have been a real social disaster," said Luca Ciriani, Minister for Relations with Parliament. "After a marathon 30-hour process, the signing of the agreement on the Electrolux dispute marks a significant step forward and is an important achievement for all parties involved. This result is the result of intense work and a joint mediation effort, in which the Government has committed to fostering dialogue between the parties. Our priority has been, and remains, safeguarding jobs and the continuity of production at Italian plants. We are all working towards this goal," said Fausta Bergamotto, Undersecretary of State for Corporate Crisis Management.
"The agreement safeguards the Swedish Group's industrial and employment structure in Italy and guarantees its future prospects," emphasized FIM CISL General Secretary Ferdinando Uliano and FIM CISL National Secretary for the sector, Massimiliano Nobis. "The nonstop negotiations over these two days at MIMIT have allowed us to make significant progress compared to the starting positions announced by the Scandinavian multinational. First, the 1.719 layoffs announced in May have been significantly reduced. Specifically, they have been transformed into voluntary redundancy incentives for 902 workers: 390 blue-collar workers and 512 white-collar/managerial workers, excluding the Cerreto d'Esi plant and 16 R&D workers," Uliano and Nobis explain. "Another important result achieved is the averted closure of the Cerreto d'Esi plant in the Marche region, scheduled for December 31 of this year. The Cerreto d'Esi workers will therefore remain employed in range hood production until a new industrial activity is established at the Marche plant."
"On the industrial and production front, the agreement defines greater stability, guarantees, and prospects for the Group's various sites," explain the FIM union representatives. "In fact, the agreement provides for a 30% increase in overall production at the four plants compared to the company's initial forecast. Production of washer-dryers will continue at the Porcia site, preventing the need for production relocation to Thailand and committing production to at least 140.000 units." "The research and development and industrialization of new products will be maintained in our country, preventing the termination of company functions. The company will invest €100 million in products and processes for the entire duration of the plan," the statement continues. "Regarding employment management, employment structures will be protected and maintained, net of departures on an exclusively voluntary and incentivized basis. The plan provides for the provision of early retirement incentives and leaves open the possibility of future rehiring. In agreement with the Ministry of Labor, the use of the expansion contract will be evaluated if it is refinanced."
"The FIM welcomes the intervention requested at the European level by Minister Adolfo Urso to protect and boost the competitiveness of the entire household appliance sector, currently particularly exposed to the pressure of Asian competition and rising energy costs. The ongoing union mobilization over these six months was crucial to reaching the draft agreement signed at the ministerial table, supporting a transition plan that must maintain the industrial roots of white goods production in Italy and support the entire household appliance sector. European industrial policies are necessary to keep Made in Italy products competitive against Asian competition."
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