A "decided industrial policy intervention" and "a serious commitment" on the Electrolux case, "so that the dialogue already started at the Ministry of Economic Development with the participation of the Ministry of Labor can reach a positive outcome in the interest of companies and workers involved". This was written by the president of Confindustria, Giorgio Squinzi, in a letter addressed to premier Enrico Letta. According to Squinzi, a "strong action by the Government in defense of the manufacturing industry is needed, aimed at strengthening our country's ability to attract and maintain investments".
The proposals presented by Confindustria to remove "our country's structural deficits that concern strategic factors for competitiveness - continues Squinzi - have remained largely disregarded", for which various issues still remain to be addressed: "The high cost of labour, due to a growing tax burden, the rigidity of the labor market and the energy differential with respect to the main foreign competitors”.
Squinzi defines the Electrolux case as "emblematic" and raises the alarm for a trend which, if it is not reversed, will lead "irremediably towards the industrial desertification of our country: a decisive signal is needed both towards a company that represents an important point of reference for the territory and towards Italian industry which is tackling the current economic crisis with tenacity and wants to win this challenge”, because what is at stake is not only the fate of the single company, but the industrial history of our country and its ability to defend its production base”.
