Whirlpool and unions on Thursday
signed a deal at the industry ministry aimed at keeping open all
the US multinational's plants in Italy and averting so-called
structural redundancies, union sources said.
The deal will now be put to workers.
The appliance maker recently submitted a new industrial
plan ruling out structural layoffs and setting productive
missions for all its plants in Italy.
It said it will move production of some components to its
plant in Carinaro near Naples, which currently employs 815
people.
That move will initially employ 320 people and the company
intends to invest eight million euros to make it happen.
The plan includes total investments of 533 million euros in
Italy, making it Whirlpool's European research hub with
investments of 90 million euros a year.
As well, the company will invest two million euros in its
plant in the Campania town of Teverola.
Unions and the Italian government have been in talks with
Whirlpool since it announced plans to lay off 2,060 workers at
its Italy plants with the Carinaro factory slated for closure.
The government called for a new business plan in line with
agreements made last year when Whirlpool bought out Italian
manufacturer Indesit.
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