Whirlpool unit Embraco on Monday
confirmed 497 job losses at its plant at Riva di Chieri near
Turin, which currently has 530 workers, trade unions said -
prompting Industry Minister Carlo Calenda to called the firm's
stance "irresponsible, unacceptable and contrary to the
commitments assumed at the various meetings at the ministry".
He said he had "urgently reconvened the firm and said "I
expect it to uphold the commitments it agreed".
Embraco, which makes compressors for fridges, said it was
therefore effectively shutting down its Italy production with
the closure of the plant.
There are no plans to keep the plant open, despite industry
ministry proposals, the unions said.
The firm recently met labour ministry officials to assess the
possibility of using government redundancy funds.
The move comes three months after the company decided to cut
production at Riva di Chieri, shifting it to other factories in
the group.
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