Labour and Industry Minister
Luigi Di Maio said Thursday that a deal has been reached for
Arcelor Mittal's takeover of ILVA and its troubled Taranto steel
plant to go through.
Arcelor Mittal got the OK for a takeover of ILVA, which has
been in the hands of government-appointed administrators after
being at the centre of environmental scandal linked to high
cancer rates in the Taranto area, under the previous centre-left
government.
Deputy Premier and 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Di Maio had
threatened to annul the tender via which Arcelor Mittal landed
ILVA, saying it was tainted by irregularities.
But he said on Thursday that he has decided to allow the
takeover after Arcelor Mittal agreed to increase the number of
ILVA workers it is set to take on by several hundred and boost
environmental measures further.
"It is the best possible result in the worst conditions," Di
Maio said.
The deal, which is set to be signed later on Thursday, will
see 10.700 ILVA workers taken on immediately
Francesca Re David, the head of metalworkers union FIOM, said
Arcelor Mittal had committed itself to taking on all of the rest
of ILVA's workforce by 2023.
"The agreement had been reached and, to be valid, it must be
approved by workers with a vote," Re David said.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
