"Today I will meet the European Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, to verify that there has been no state aid to Slovakia for the Honeywell and Embraco companies and to find a way to correct what is a distortion". The Minister of Economic Development, Carlo Calenda, said on Radio Anch'io on Tuesday, underlining that he was "furious" about the case I embrace, the multinational manufacturer of refrigeration tools which a few days ago announced the closure of the headquarters of Chieri shore, with annex dismissal without layoffs 497 employees.
The minister – who defined the management of the company now controlled by the group as “rabble”. Whirpool – he will ask Vestager also made an exception to the treaties for individual cases such as that of Embraco. “I – said Calenda – think that when we asserted our reasons we managed to prevail. This is the work that must be done seriously, continue to build the conditions in which there is a piece of country that flies. Excellence is fundamental, but no country is made up only of excellence. The country is doing very well, but we need to take care of the losing piece, people must be protected otherwise we won't get out of it".
As early as October, Embraco had announced its intention to reduce the production volumes of the Piedmontese plant, demoralizing production in the Slovakian structures. However, no one expected today's scenario, with the definitive closure of the entire plant, which became official with the communication from the company - which is American - to the Dry, Consob Usa (this is a legal obligation since Embraco is listed on the stock exchange).
The minister, in an interview with Corriere della Sera, launched a proposal. “We need a globalization adjustment fund, a reindustrialization fund which – he explained – prevents relocations and puts in packages that go beyond state aid regulations for those who want to go and produce elsewhere in Europe in advantageous conditions linked to the different levels of development of the countries. We are economies in continuous transition, managing them will be increasingly fundamental, so we need stronger tools".
“The company – continued Calenda – has our proposal, if they come back we're willing to take them into consideration, but I don't have other meetings that end with 'maybe', 'but'. I prefer to hit the ground running with Invitalia to understand if there are any proposals and support them". The time limit, she added, “is given by the mobility procedure, therefore until the end of March. The 25 March to be exact, the date from which the collective redundancies will start.
On February 19, Embraco rejected any hypothesis of layoffs showing, according to Calenda's words, "a absurd and irresponsible behavior. I proposed the agreement to make layoffs and work on the reindustrialization of the site a month ago, the company agreed and we presented it together with the unions. Then an unbecoming ballet began. I decided to cut the bull's head off."
However, the minister assured the Embraco workers that the fight will continue. “My commitment is in the first person, we will do everything that can be done”.
But where does the multinational's decision come from? Many accuse her of having benefited from tax breaks and public funds. We must be clear, Embraco will not close due to bankruptcy, but simply has to move production to where it is most convenient.
