Representatives of US multinational
appliance maker Whirlpool and its Brazilian
fridge-component-making unit Embraco had "technical" talks at
the industry ministry on Thursday, sources said.
The talks follow contacts between Industry Minister Carlo
Calenda and Whirlpool CEO Marc Bitzer over Embraco's plans to
move 500 jobs from Italy to Slovakia, closing its Italian plant
near Turin.
The talks are aimed at verifying if slim possibilities of a
rethink "may concretely lead to positive developments", the
sources said.
European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said earlier
Thursday he had had a long talk over the phone with Whirlpool
CEO Bitzer about Embraco's plans to move the 497 jobs from
Italy to Slovakia.
Tajani said "we are working constructively for a positive
solution in favour of the workers at Chieri" near Turin.
"It's not going to be easy but, as I promised, I'll give it
my all".
On Wednesday Brazilian Industry Minister Marcos Jorge de Lima
on Wednesday promised Tajani he would do "all he could" on
Embraco's plans to move production from Italy to Slovakia with
the loss of nearly 500 jobs, Tajani said.
De Lima "assured me he will do everything possible to lend a
hand and will call the firm to understand how the situation is
evolving," Tajani said after a long phone call with the
minister.
Tajani said he had "illustrated the picture of the situation
of Embraco and asked for help and collaboration on the part of
Brazilian authorities, also in the context of relations with the
Mercosur".
Minister de Lima "considered positive the idea of contacting
the Americans," Tajani said, referring to parent company
Whirlpool.
"We are trying to do so," he said.
The minister said he would do his utmost to help solve the
situation while stressing that both Embraco and Whirlpool were
private companies.
Embraco, a Brazilian fridge-compressor unit of US
multinational Whirlpool, plans to close its plant near Turin.
Italy has referred the case to European Competition
Commissioner Margrethe Vestager who has vowed to be
intransigent if it turns out that Slovakian incentives to lure
the company there constitute State aid, which is banned.
photo: Whirlpool workers protest in Turin
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