(ANSA) - Rome, February 20 - Industry Minister Carlo Calenda
said Tuesday he would ask European Competition Commissioner
Margrethe Vestager later today for an exemption from EU treaties
on State aid to deal with the case of Embraco, the US
multinational Whirlpool unit that is sacking its 500 Italian
employees as it moves production to Slovakia.
"There are structural conditions," that mean eastern European
countries have lower labour costs, he said.
"I couldn't frame a rule saying that labour costs should be
so much lower for Embraco, because that would be State aid. But
I think you can interpret the treaties to say that in this
specific case, of a firm moving to Slovakia, the norm may be
flouted.
"Let's see what Vestager's answer is".
Embraco on Monday refused to change plans to sack its 497
workers at Riva di Chieri near Turin, prompting Calenda to say
he would no longer "meet this scum".
Calenda had asked the Brazilian company to agree to use a
government layoff fund, but Embraco refused point blank.
Calenda to ask Vestager for exemption (3)
Will see competition commissioner later today